1. A seasoned pharmacist, business leader, and health-sector entrepreneur

Pharm. Uchenna Uzoma Apakama, FPSN, is a distinguished pharmacist and accomplished entrepreneur who has significantly shaped pharmacy practice in Southeastern Nigeria. He founded Paxs Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in 1987, a visionary enterprise established to provide authentic medicines and high-quality pharmaceutical care.

Under his leadership, Paxs has expanded into a thriving network of 10 pharmacies across Anambra, Ebonyi, and Delta States. He earned his B.Pharm from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, cementing his foundation in pharmacy excellence.

2. A globally connected pharmaceutical professional

Apakama maintains strong international professional linkages as a member of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA), and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).

He also served as a Pioneer Pharmacist Consultant (South-East) with the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria (GHAIN) under USAID/PEPFAR, reflecting his early commitment to public-health advancement and HIV/AIDS service delivery.

3. Began steering the leadership of BOF-PSN in 2024

Apakama assumed leadership of the Board of Fellows of the PSN in 2024, following his emergence as Chairman during the PSN Annual General Meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He formally took over the mantle of leadership on 25 November 2024, marking the beginning of a new strategic era for the fellowship.

4. Launched a nationwide anti-drug abuse and mental-health advocacy campaign

In July 2025, Apakama led BOF-PSN in unveiling a nationwide substance-abuse awareness and mental-health advocacy initiative, during the 7th Public Lecture themed “Mental Health: A Basic Human Right Crucial to Personal, Community, and Socio-Economic Development.”

He affirmed his commitment to taking the message to every corner of Nigeria, emphasizing the indispensable role of pharmacists in prevention, early detection, counselling, and community engagement.

5. Championing an expanded role for community pharmacists in mental-health care

He has consistently advocated for community pharmacists to be recognized as frontline mental-health caregivers — capable of identifying early symptoms, offering preliminary counselling, managing medications, and guiding patients toward appropriate care.

He urged the government to support capacity-building programmes to equip pharmacists for these emerging responsibilities.

6. Strong advocate for investment in pharmacists as critical pillars of national health security

During the 2025 World Pharmacists Day, Apakama reinforced BOF-PSN’s call for greater national recognition of pharmacists as essential actors in health-system resilience, universal health coverage, and emergency preparedness.

He emphasized the need for sustained support for all cadres of pharmacists — community, hospital, industry, academia, and regulators — to ensure innovation, safety, and high-quality healthcare delivery.

7. Strengthening fellowship visibility, relevance, and national engagement

Since taking office, Apakama has pursued a deliberate agenda to enhance the visibility, cohesion, and strategic relevance of the Board of Fellows.

The fellowship under his leadership has intensified efforts in national advocacy, mentorship, policy contributions, public lectures, and collaboration with relevant professional and regulatory institutions — reinforcing BOF-PSN as a thought-leadership hub within the pharmaceutical sector.

8. Driving institutional and financial reforms for sustainability

Mindful of historical financial constraints, Apakama has prioritized financial strengthening, revenue expansion, and a robust fund-recovery process to reposition the fellowship on a stronger economic footing.

He has also hinted at forward-looking structural reforms aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring BOF-PSN’s long-term sustainability.

9. Bridging pharmacy practice with public-health needs and national policy priorities

Apakama’s leadership style strategically aligns BOF-PSN with pressing national health challenges — including substance abuse, mental-health gaps, and access-to-medicine inequities.

Through advocacy, outreach, and stakeholder engagement, he continues to reposition the Board not merely as an honorary body, but as a policy-shaping institution with tangible impact on public health and the future of pharmacy in Nigeria.

10. A multidimensional leader with experience across pharmacy, business, public health, and civic service

Beyond his professional achievements, Apakama brings a wide-ranging perspective shaped by entrepreneurship (Paxs Pharmaceuticals), public-health service (GHAIN), and civic engagement across various sectors.

This blend of experience equips him with a holistic leadership outlook, enabling him to steer BOF-PSN with a vision rooted in professionalism, ethical practice, community welfare, and system strengthening.