The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) is preparing for a historic milestone as it marks 100 years of professional excellence, service, and institutional growth. At the forefront of the celebration is Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, FPSN, past President of the PSN, who is spearheading the Centenary Planning Committee with a promise to deliver a celebration worthy of the Society’s century-long legacy.

The centenary, expected to spotlight the evolution of pharmacy practice from colonial-era dispensaries to a modern, globally engaged profession, will feature a series of heritage exhibitions, high-level policy dialogues, awards, and iconic commemorative events.

In an exclusive interview with CEOAFRICA, Pharm. Akintayo assured that preparations are progressing with precision and ambition befitting the milestone.

“Plans are already on top gear to ensure that the 100-year anniversary of the PSN isn’t just another celebration, but one that will linger for centuries to come,” he said, emphasizing the committee’s commitment to excellence.

According to him, the centenary presents a rare opportunity to showcase the contributions, resilience, and leadership of pharmacists in national development across the last ten decades.

Adding his voice, the Centenary President, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, expressed absolute confidence in the team driving the anniversary project. “I have no doubt that this will be a remarkably successful celebration. We have the right people in the right roles, all working passionately to deliver a befitting centenary for our great Society,” he stated.

"Our centenary will be a unique opportunity to showcase pharma advances in the quest to strengthen Nigeria fragile Health System which we must continue to consolidate to bring up to par," he added.

The excitement around the anniversary dates back to 2024 when the immediate past president, Prof. Cyril Usifoh, inaugurated the PSN Centenary Committee. The committee, chaired by Pharm. Olumide Akintayo with Pharm. Azubike Okwor as Secretary, was mandated to design and execute a year-long celebration that reflects the Society’s historical impact and future aspirations.

Since its inauguration, the committee has been leaving no stone unturned—consulting stakeholders, curating archival materials, mapping key events, and developing a robust roadmap to celebrate PSN as the oldest recognised professional body in Nigeria.

With the level of preparation and the calibre of leadership involved, expectations are high that the centenary will not only honour the past but also set a transformative direction for the next century of pharmacy practice in Nigeria.