The Community Pharmacists Assessment Career Progression Institute (CPACPI) was officially launched during the 44th Annual International Scientific Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), tagged "IFEADIGO 2025," on July 25, 2025 at the International Conference Centre, Awka.

The innovative initiative was aimed at enhancing career advancement for community pharmacists, encouraging their active participation in this transformative framework.

In her presentation, Pharm. (Dr.) Iyeseun Asieba emphasized the pivotal role community pharmacists play as the first point of contact for individuals seeking healthcare. "Community pharmacists are accessible, trained, and trusted, providing a unique platform to make a significant impact on public health and patient outcomes," she stated, highlighting the multifaceted nature of community pharmacy, which blends healthcare services, entrepreneurship, science, and art.

She noted that, as of 2024, Nigeria had 7,811 registered community pharmacists in the retail sector, along with another 1,898 involved in wholesale and distribution. Dr. Asieba described CPACPI as a pioneering institution dedicated to evaluating, accrediting, and guiding the growth of community pharmacists nationwide. “CPACPI is created to evaluate, support, and elevate the practice of community pharmacy across Nigeria,” she elaborated.

Acknowledging the challenges faced by the profession, including a lack of structured career progression paths and standardized performance metrics, Dr. Asieba pointed out numerous opportunities offered by CPACPI, such as career retention, professional recognition, and the promotion of community pharmacies as primary healthcare centers: “This initiative serves as a platform for better compensation within and outside the pharmacy sector, including government and development partners.”

She outlined CPACPI's vision to become the leading global authority on community pharmacy assessment and career advancement, with a mission to provide robust assessment tools and facilitate structured career progression. The initiative’s key objectives focus on assessment, career progression, professional development, and continuous quality improvement, in collaboration with organizations such as ACPN, PSN, PCN, NAPA, and the PSN Foundation.

Dr. Asieba urged community pharmacists to enroll in the project, emphasizing that their participation is crucial for advancing the profession and enhancing patient care across Nigeria.

Following her presentation, Pharm. Ambrose Ezeh, ACPN National Chairman, reinforced the significance of CPACPI, stating, “CPACPI is what the NEC members in our council adopted during our mid-year conference in 2024. We have already begun taking action on it, and there is a consensus that this is the way forward." He highlighted that the initiative had also gained support from traditional community leaders, who viewed it as a globally relevant advancement for the pharmacy sector.

The launch of CPACPI at IFEADIGO 2025 marks a significant step towards transforming the community pharmacy landscape in Nigeria, positioning pharmacists for success and improving healthcare delivery through professional development and recognition.