Distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues, industry leaders, partners, and friends.

It is with immense pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you all to the

2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition of the Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distributors

Association of Nigeria (PWDAN). This year’s theme, “Bridging Gaps: Integrating Pharma

Wholesalers/Distributors for Medicine Security in Nigeria,” could not be more timely or more

urgent.

We gather here today not just to reflect, but to act. The recent closure of some of the open drug

markets in Nigeria created a lot of problems in the pharmaceutical industry. It disrupted supply

chains and exposed the fragility of our current distribution systems. But in every challenge lies

an opportunity—and this is our moment to rise.

For years, PWDAN has championed the cause of a structured, transparent, and secure

pharmaceutical supply chain. We have consistently advocated for the full implementation of the

National Drug Distribution Guidelines introduced by the government in 2012. These guidelines

were not just policy—they were a blueprint for medicine security, for public health, and for

national resilience.

Today, more than ever, we must embrace that blueprint. And there is no better time than now.

No better platform than this. And no better organization than PWDAN to lead the charge.

We are not just stakeholders—we are the backbone of the pharmaceutical supply chain. We are

the ones who have invested in doing things the right way: through legitimate channels, with

integrity, and with the health of Nigerians at heart. If PWDAN is empowered and supported to

fulfill its mandate, the entire ecosystem wins—patients, providers, regulators, and the private

sector alike.

Yet, we must be honest with ourselves. The government is exploring alternative arrangements,

and the private sector risks being sidelined—not because we lack capacity, but because we have

not fully embraced the structures already in place. This is a call to action. We must close ranks,

align with national policy, and work together to fill the gaps that threaten our collective future.

Let me be clear: medicine security is not a government problem. It is a national imperative. And

it requires all hands-on deck—regulators, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and

retailers—working in harmony, with PWDAN as a trusted bridge.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, our partners, and every individual who

has contributed to making this conference a reality. Your support is not just appreciated—it is

essential

As we begin this important gathering, I urge us to engage deeply, think boldly, and collaborate

meaningfully. Let us generate ideas, strategies, and resolutions that we can take to the

regulators and authorities—solutions that will shape the future of medicine distribution in

Nigeria.

Together, let us bridge the gaps. Let us secure the future. Let us build a pharmaceutical supply

chain that every Nigerian can trust.

Thank you, and may God bless PWDAN, and May God bless our great nation.