The African Society of Clinical Pharmacists (ASOCLIP) has formally inaugurated its 11-member Pioneer Continental Executive Committee (CEC), marking a defining milestone in the evolution of clinical pharmacy and coordinated healthcare leadership across Africa. Founded in 2025 as an international professional body, ASOCLIP inaugurated the committee on February 5, 2026, positioning it as the principal technical and governance engine for advancing medication safety, strengthening health systems, and harmonizing clinical pharmacy standards continent-wide.
The establishment of the CEC responds directly to Africa’s persistent health challenges, including a disproportionate disease burden, medication-related harm, fragmented standards of care, and critical shortages within the healthcare workforce. The committee’s mandate reflects a long-standing continental need for a unified professional platform capable of translating clinical expertise into scalable, system-level solutions.
Declaring the inauguration formally open, ASOCLIP President Dr. Joseph Madu underscored that the Society’s journey has been driven by a clear and deliberate vision: to narrow the healthcare performance gap between Africa and other regions of the world, while restoring public trust in health systems through the optimization of medicines use. He described the newly inaugurated leadership as the Society’s technical backbone—a multidisciplinary cohort of practitioners, educators, researchers, and policy leaders charged with embedding sustainable, patient-centred reforms across diverse health systems.
The Pioneer Executive Committee brings together an accomplished coalition of trailblazers and changemakers drawn from multiple African sub-regions and professional specialties. The Committee is led by Dr. Joseph Madu (Nigeria) as President and Dr. Rahanatou Galy Adam (Republic of Niger) as Vice President. Other members include Dr. Theresa Alabilla Aku (Ghana), Secretary-General; Pharm. Olubunmi Susanna Idoko (Nigeria), Assistant Secretary-General; Dr. Ibrahim Bello (Nigeria), Financial Secretary; and Pharm. Ifeoma Momah (Nigeria), Treasurer.
The Society’s administrative and technical capacities are further reinforced by Pharm. Ngozi Frances Ezeani (Nigeria), Director of Communications and Publicity; Dr. Hellen Mboi Adak (Ghana), Editor-in-Chief; Dr. Palakyem Alfa Kpelipei (Togo), West Africa Representative; Dr. Shauna George Arue (Uganda), East Africa Representative; and Dr. Abdulmuminu Isah (Nigeria), Technical Adviser. Collectively, the team reflects a deliberate balance of clinical expertise, leadership experience, and geographic diversity—ensuring that regional realities inform continental strategies.
This landmark initiative aligns with the strategic priorities of the African Union, particularly the integration of health professionals into coordinated platforms that promote accountability, peer learning, and shared standards. In line with this vision, the CEC has already demonstrated decisive momentum through the appointment of a 12-member Advisory Board comprising eminent pharmacists from across Africa and the African diaspora. The Board will provide high-level guidance, strengthen technical rigor, and support the long-term sustainability of ASOCLIP’s interventions.
With participating pharmacists from approximately 20 African countries, ASOCLIP is committed to developing national action plans that elevate pharmacy practice and to serving as the authoritative global voice of African clinical pharmacists. Through strategic partnerships with governments, academic institutions, and allied health professionals, the Society seeks to position clinical pharmacy as a foundational pillar for effective and enduring health sector reforms.
At the core of the CEC’s mandate is a values-driven commitment to collaboration, solidarity, and humanity in decision-making—principles essential to achieving health equity and system resilience. The Committee is charged with leading technical programs for the sustainable advancement of the profession, reviewing and guiding project implementation, and reporting on progress toward the harmonization of clinical pharmacy standards across Africa’s sub-regions.
Reinforcing this vision, Dr. Madu stated during the inauguration:
No country can stand alone in the face of today’s health emergencies. Collaboration is not optional—it is our only path forward. We must no longer view health as a burden, but as a foundation for prosperity and strength. Africa must lead its own health transformation.”
ASOCLIP affirms that the future of African health systems depends on a shared resolve to convert policy commitments into measurable outcomes that improve lives in every community. Under the leadership of its Pioneer Continental Executive Committee, the Society is poised to catalyze a resilient, equitable, and people-centred healthcare future—led by Africa, for Africa.
