Community pharmacists in Lagos State have been urged to leverage technology, collaboration, and data-driven approaches to strengthen healthcare delivery in the country.

The call came at the 2026 Continuing Education Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists (ACPN), Lagos State, and themed “Advancing Community Pharmacy Practice through Technology, Collaboration and Expanded Services.”

The three-day conference, which attracted wide participation from pharmacists and stakeholders, was aimed at renewed emphasis on the role of technology, data, and collaboration in advancing community pharmacy practice. The association encouraged members to actively engage, network, and translate the knowledge gained into improved patient care and stronger, more integrated healthcare delivery across Nigeria.

ACPN Chairman, Lagos branch, Tolulope Ajayi, in his address, highlighted that the theme was particularly timely given the rapid pace of technological advancement, the growing emphasis on data-driven decisions, and the increasing need for collaboration across the healthcare sector.

Ajayi urged pharmacists to intentionally scale their practice through technological integration, robust pharmaceutical care, and active participation in public health programmes. He also encouraged attendees to leverage capacity-building initiatives such as Community Pharmacist Assessment and Career Progression Institute (CPACPI), West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) consultancy and residency programmes, and certifications in areas like vaccination and substance abuse management to enhance professional competence and patient outcomes.

Delivering the keynote address, President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, NjideNdili, described community pharmacists as central pillars of the healthcare system who are often overlooked. She stressed that pharmacies are frequently the first point of entry for patients and highlighted the need for pharmacists to empower themselves with digital systems that connect them effectively to the wider healthcare network.

According to Ndili, who is the Country Director of PharmAccess Nigeria, collaboration is equally essential, as no single sector can solve the country’s healthcare challenges alone. She urged pharmacists to work closely with other healthcare professionals and stakeholders to design systems that work for all.

Ndili also emphasised the importance of engaging young professionals in shaping healthcare policies, noting that their involvement is crucial to ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the profession.

Addressing concerns about prescription errors and medical negligence, she acknowledged that misdiagnoses remain a pressing problem in Nigeria. Citing her personal experience with her father’s treatment, she underlined the need for structured clinical protocols, quality improvement systems, and regulatory oversight to ensure safe and effective medication use.

On the role of continuing education, Ndili described programmes like the ACPN conference as “extremely important,” pointing out that medical knowledge evolves continuously.

And that healthcare professionals who fail to update themselves risk becoming obsolete.

She particularly highlighted the relevance of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovations in pharmacy practice, but cautioned that AI systems must be trained on locally generated data to be effective in Nigeria. Without digitisation and the collection of Nigeria-specific data, he warned, AI adoption could be inefficient and less impactful.

Ndili urged community pharmacists to unite under the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria to advocate collectively for the sector. He stressed that collaboration, unity, and coordinated advocacy are vital to addressing the complex challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system.