By Esther Onyegbula

Nigeria’s pharmaceutical research community has secured another major international milestone as two research abstracts developed under the Community Pharmacists Assessment and Career Progression Institute, CPACPI, were accepted for presentation at the 84th International Pharmaceutical Federation, FIP, World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences scheduled for Montreal, Canada, from August 30 to September 2, 2026.

The development is being viewed within the industry as a significant global endorsement of Nigeria’s growing contributions to pharmaceutical research, workforce development and evidence-based healthcare reforms.

Widely regarded as the world’s largest gathering of pharmacy professionals, the annual FIP Congress serves as a global platform for pharmaceutical innovation, healthcare delivery advancement, scientific collaboration and professional education.

The latest recognition further strengthens Nigeria’s visibility within the international pharmaceutical community and builds on the momentum generated at the previous FIP Congress in Denmark where the standardized CPACPI framework introduced by the National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, was adopted by the FIP Community Pharmacy Section.

Stakeholders within the profession described the acceptance of the two abstracts as a strategic breakthrough capable of deepening international awareness of Nigerian community pharmacy practice through structured professional development systems and research-driven reforms.

The accepted studies will be presented by the Chairman of the CPACPI Board, Dr. Iyeseun Asieba, and the National Secretary of ACPN, Pharm. Omokhafe Mary Ashore, under the supervision of the Research and Publications Subcommittee led by Prof. Chukwuemeka Ubaka.

Speaking on the development, Dr. Asieba said the international recognition goes beyond academic achievement and reflects the growing relevance of Nigerian pharmacy practice globally.
According to him, “The acceptance is deeply rewarding because it demonstrates that both the challenges and innovative solutions emerging from Nigerian pharmacy practice possess global relevance and applicability.”

One of the accepted papers titled, “The Implementation Gap: Perceived Barriers and External Threats to Community Pharmacists’ Participation in a Career Advancement Scheme in Nigeria,” examines institutional limitations, systemic barriers and regulatory concerns affecting participation in structured career advancement programmes among community pharmacists.

The study also investigates factors limiting professional growth, competency enhancement and sustainable workforce development within the pharmaceutical sector.
Observers within the profession described the CPACPI initiatives championed by Dr. Asieba under the leadership of Pharm. Ezeh as transformative reforms capable of reshaping community pharmacy practice in Nigeria and other regions facing similar healthcare and workforce challenges.

The second accepted research paper titled, “Beyond the Counter: Profiling the Early Adopters of a Career Progression Framework among Nigerian Community Pharmacists,” will be presented by Pharm. Ashore.

The research explores the motivations, behavioural patterns and professional characteristics of pharmacists who embraced the CPACPI framework during its early implementation stage, while also providing insights into the changing dynamics of community pharmacy practice in Nigeria.

Reacting to the development, Pharm. Ashore described the recognition as encouraging and inspiring.
She said, “This demonstrates how localized healthcare research and community-based professional initiatives can shape global healthcare conversations and influence policy directions.”
Also speaking, Pharm. Ezeh expressed satisfaction over what he described as the growing global relevance of Nigerian pharmaceutical practice.

According to him, “Strengthening competencies, improving professional pathways and institutionalizing structured career progression among community pharmacists remain essential toward building resilient, patient-centered and sustainable primary healthcare systems.”

He added that the expected international exposure from the presentations would likely encourage wider institutional support and broader adoption of the standardized career progression framework across Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

Pharm. Ezeh further stressed the need for continuous competency development among pharmacists, noting that eliminating professional complacency remains critical to improving patient outcomes and strengthening pharmaceutical care services nationwide.

Industry stakeholders believe the acceptance of the two abstracts further reinforces Nigeria’s expanding contribution to pharmaceutical innovation, research excellence, healthcare reforms and workforce development within the global pharmacy ecosystem.

The accepted presentations also align with the official theme of the 84th FIP World Congress, “One Health, One Pharmacy, Bridging Science, Practice, and Education,” which seeks to promote stronger integration between pharmaceutical science, healthcare systems, professional education and clinical practice globally.