PCN inducts 85 foreign-trained pharmacists

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has inducted 85 foreign-trained Nigerian pharmacists, urging them to uphold professionalism, integrity and ethical standards as they begin practice in the country.

The pharmacists were admitted into the profession on Monday during the oath-taking and induction ceremony for participants in the first cycle of the 2026 Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Orientation Programme held in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Pharm. Ibrahim Ahmed, described the induction as the beginning of a new phase in the careers of the pharmacists and commended them for returning to contribute to Nigeria’s healthcare system.

“Your decision to join this profession in Nigeria reflects courage, dedication and a strong desire to contribute to the advancement of pharmaceutical healthcare,” Ahmed said.

He noted that the Council valued the international experience and expertise the pharmacists would bring to the country’s health sector, expressing confidence that they would strengthen collaboration and promote high standards of pharmacy practice.

Ahmed reminded the newly inducted professionals that pharmacy is a noble profession built on integrity, compassion, precision and continuous learning, urging them to familiarise themselves with Nigeria’s laws, ethical standards and regulatory requirements.

He also assured them of the Council’s support as they integrate into the nation’s healthcare system.

Chairman of the occasion, the Esu of Karu and Chairman of the Karu Local Government Traditional Council in Nasarawa State, Pharm. Luka Baba, described the induction as a major milestone for both the pharmacists and Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

He said the orientation programme had successfully aligned the participants’ international training with the country’s healthcare needs and regulatory framework.

“As you take your oath today, remember that pharmacy is not just a profession—it is a calling anchored in integrity, precision and humanity,” Baba said.

He encouraged the pharmacists to see their profession as a service to humanity, noting that their global exposure and expertise would strengthen healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Orientation Programme is organised by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria to prepare pharmacists trained abroad for professional practice in Nigeria by familiarising them with the country’s pharmacy laws, ethical standards, healthcare policies and regulatory framework before they are licensed to practise.