The President of the Association of Pharmaceutical Products Marketers of Nigeria, APPMAN, Hon. Afolabi Adekanmbi, said that  the association APPMAN, is not at war with either the Pharmacists Society of Nigeria (PSN) or the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) or anyone whatsoever, on the issue pertaining to retail drug sales in the pharmaceutical sector.

Afolabi who promised to continue with further advocacy in managing areas of misunderstanding within the listed associations made this disclosure at this year, 3 days APPMAN National Convention holding at Airport Hotel Lagos, from 13th to 15th of October 2022. 

The President stated that the theme for this year convention is “the menace of drug abuse and the challenge to pharmaceutical businesses” under the Keynote speaker, Prof Oluwatoyin Odeku. 

He further stated that the Convention will be chaired by the MD/CEO of Fidson Heathcare International,  Mr Fidelis Ayebae and other speaker is Hajia Kafilat Araoye, MD Lotus Bank, with the topic ” Promoting National Prosperity through Accessible Healthcare.

APPMAN National President declared that this year convention is fully loaded with interesting and qualitative programs inclusive of drug stands for manufacturers and  marketers for mutual and business interactions. The concluding part of the press conference stated as follows;

“I thank God Almighty for the opportunity to address you today, being the 3rd National Convention of our dear Association of Pharmaceutical Products Marketers of Nigeria, since my assumption of office. 

“During this period, my leadership has performed creditably well in several areas of positive endeavours, most especially in turning the lots of our dear association from the analogue stage into the digital age of quality representations, inclusive of gender sensitivity. 

“The incessant misunderstanding and rivalry between APPMAN and the regulators, most especially the Pharmacists at all strata, have been consigned to the dustbin of history through massive advocacy and I promised to build more on this, to further create more enabling environment, for us to thrive as business men and women.

“Our dear Association APPMAN, has moved from the era of anything goes to a stricter and self auditing mechanism, put in place by my administration to checkmate under hand business dealings and also ensuring that the right things are done by all members at all times.  

“This has further reduced the supervisory loads on the regulatory agencies and hence make life and business easy for  everyone concerned.

“In the last 3 years, I have criss crossed the entire country, planting APPMAN seeds everywhere I went, and as at today we have germinated APPMAN, spread across the length and breath of the nation, thereby making quality drugs available at affordable prices and thus ensuring increase life expectancy for the entire citizens. Kudos to all members.  

“Under my leadership, APPMAN has established positive relationships with many contralateral partners in the pharmaceutical businesses, like the importers and champions in the big markets spread across the country from Idumota to Onitsha etc, thereby ensuring safe, smooth and effective delivery of pharmaceutical products for the overall good of the community. 

“Despite the above and several achievements of my administration, the schism leading to the Edo Court case bewtween APPMAN and ACPN, is noted and my administration will do everything legally posible to ensure that justice is done. 

“Let me put it on record that APPMAN is not at war with any layer of the Pharmacist Associations, from ACPN to PSN etc. 

“We are Interwoven partners in business, and I implore the Pharmacists to see us as such, rather than further fanning the embers of discord. 

“The issue of retail selling has been settled by a higher court of law in Nigeria and on this we stand, hence we should all work together to put any further misunderstanding arising from retail selling behind us, once and for all. 

“My administration will continue with my priority agenda of advocacy by further engaging the PCN, NAFDAC, NDLEA and others, in all areas necessary to bring about the ease of doing qualitative business by all members, he added

The convention was maximally attended by politicians, Captains of pharmaceutical industries inclusive of the Registrar Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Pharm. Ibrahim Ahmed Babashehu, the DG NAFDAC Prof  Mojisola Adeyeye and the Governor of Lagos State is expected to declare the convention opened as the Special Guest of Honour.