The Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) has formally commenced preparations for its 2026 Annual National Conference, a high-level gathering positioned to accelerate Nigeria’s drive toward pharmaceutical self-sufficiency and reduce the country’s estimated 70 per cent dependence on imported medicines.

Tagged “Harmony Reloaded”, the conference is scheduled to hold from May 3 to 7, 2026, at De Peace Hotels and Suites in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital. Industry observers describe the event as one of the most strategically timed pharmaceutical summits in recent years, coming amid renewed national focus on local manufacturing, medicine security, and health system resilience.

Held under the theme *“Collaboration and Innovation to Build Local Solutions for the Future of the Nigerian Pharma Industry,” the conference will convene industrial pharmacists, regulators, academics, policymakers, and business leaders to examine practical pathways for transforming Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution ecosystem.

Speaking on the vision behind the summit, NAIP National Chairman, Pharm (Sir)Bankole Aminu Ezebuilo FPSN, said the conference would serve as a strategic platform for aligning professional expertise, policy direction, and private sector investment toward sustainable local production. According to him, innovation-driven collaboration is no longer optional but essential for safeguarding public health and strengthening national security.

The conference programme is expected to feature high-impact plenary sessions, technical workshops, exhibitions, and structured networking engagements. These sessions will spotlight emerging manufacturing technologies, regulatory reforms, supply-chain efficiency, and investment opportunities capable of repositioning Nigeria as a competitive pharmaceutical hub in Africa.

Babkole stressed that medicine security through local production must be treated as a national imperative. “Innovation-driven partnerships among professionals, government, and industry players remain central to achieving medicine security and universal health coverage,” he said, noting that access to quality medicines is inseparable from national resilience.

In a symbolic show of local and traditional institution support, the NAIP leadership recently paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Ilorin, HRM Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, who pledged his full backing for the conference. The Association also announced plans to conduct a free medical outreach for vulnerable residents and to donate essential medicines valued at over ₦3 million to the Palace clinic during the event.

Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital, is expected to host hundreds of delegates from across the country, further reinforcing its growing profile as a destination for national professional engagements.

In a closing call to action, the NAIP Chairman urged members and stakeholders to fully mobilize behind the conference, describing it as a defining moment for the profession. “The future of healthcare in Nigeria depends on how quickly we embrace innovation and build local capacity,” Ezebuilo declared. “Innovation is not a choice; it is an obligation. Pharmacists must remain at the forefront of building a healthier, self-reliant Nigeria.”

With preparations now underway, HARMONY 2026 is widely anticipated to set the tone for the next phase of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industrial evolution.