The world’s first Community Pharmacist Assessment and Career Progression Institute (CPACPI) has called on the Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria and relevant stakeholders to provide the legislative, financial, and institutional support necessary to sustain the the institute framework endorsed by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) during its 83rd World Congress in Copenhagen.

The Institute made this call at a Stakeholders Engagement Meeting held in Abuja.
The meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration around the transformative initiative brought together leaders of the pharmacy profession, government regulators, development partners, and private sector stakeholders.

According to CPACPI, by institutionalizing the structured professional pathway, Nigeria is not only reforming the community pharmacy profession but also laying the foundation for a future in which every community pharmacy evolves into a center of clinical excellence, strengthening national health security and advancing the global transformation of pharmacy practice.

Known as “Pharmacy Forward: Performance, Collaboration and Health Transformation,” the CPACPI noted that the initiative presents a structured professional pathway designed to transition community pharmacies from traditional medicine outlets into sophisticated clinical health hubs operating within the primary healthcare system.

They emphasised that the long-term success of the CPACPI framework will depend on sustained collaboration between government institutions, regulatory bodies, development partners, and the wider pharmaceutical community.

National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh in his welcome address reaffirmed the profession’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery through improved capacity development.

Ezeh emphasised that community pharmacists remain the most accessible healthcare professionals, noting that nearly 60 per cent of patients seek help from pharmacists before visiting hospitals.

He explained that when pharmacists operate within a structured professional system supported by continuous learning and evaluation, the quality of healthcare delivery improves significantly.

Reflecting on the role of pharmacists during the global health crisis of the COVID-19 Pandemic, he noted that community pharmacists played a critical role in providing frontline support and ensuring access to medicines.

According to him, the CPACPI initiative is designed to evaluate, support, and elevate community pharmacy practice, while rewarding competence, strengthening professional confidence, and improving job satisfaction across the sector.

The technical depth of the framework was presented by, Chairman of the CPACPI Board, Dr. Iyeseun Asieba in his presentation provided the technical depth of the frame.

In the presentation titled “A Competency-Driven Community Pharmacist Workforce.” Asieba highlighted the urgent need to mobilize Nigeria’s health sector potential in the face of the growing professional migration trend widely referred to as the “Japa Syndrome.”

She warned that the shortage of skilled healthcare personnel continues to affect the performance of the health system.

According to her, transforming community pharmacies into clinical health hubs through targeted investments in training, infrastructure, and professional development would enable Nigeria not only to strengthen its healthcare delivery system but also to exceed global standards in pharmacy practice.

She explained that CPACPI is not simply a training institution but a comprehensive professional development platform that introduces standardized evaluation procedures across three major pillars: capacity building, quality improvement, and career band progression.

Her position was reinforced by Dr. Ibironke Dada, who led the Quality Assurance and Improvement segment, where she outlined minimum standards for practice aimed at protecting patients and ensuring consistent professional excellence across community pharmacy settings.

Providing further academic depth, Professor Emeka Ubaka presented a detailed career progression roadmap for community pharmacists, an initiative widely described by stakeholders as the first of its kind globally.

Ubaka explained that the CPACPI model removes historical disparities that once placed community pharmacy practice at a disadvantage compared to other professional sectors. Under the new structure, the professional status and career trajectory of community pharmacists will align with the highest levels of the pharmaceutical profession.

He outlined four major professional bands within the framework: Community Pharmacist, Senior Community Pharmacist, Senior Community Pharmacist Specialist, Consultant Pharmacist
He stressed that advancement across these levels will require deliberate career development, objective assessment, and measurable professional competence. Professor Ubaka also encouraged pharmacists across the country to serve as regional champions in order to ensure the sustainability and nationwide implementation of the initiative.

Dr Peter Agada who spoke on Strengthening Primary Healthcare through Community Pharmacists: Integration with National Health Priorities, Opportunities for Collaboration highlighted the critical roles Community Pharmacists can play in expanding access to prevention of diseases, and providing treatment and care and support for patients within the primary health care system and public health space, significantly contributing to improving health outcomes in Nigeria.