2026 Conference Communique

Communique issued at the conclusion of the 20th Annual Scientific Conference and Exposition of the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas, NAPPSA, held September 17 to 20, 2026, in Aurora, Colorado, USA.

For immediate release, October 17, 2026.

The 20th Annual NAPPSA Scientific Conference and Exposition was held in Aurora, Colorado, at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center. The conference was formally opened by NAPPSA President Dr. Kunle Tometi, PharmD, and marked the Association’s twentieth consecutive Annual Scientific Conference and Exposition.

The theme of the conference was Globalizing Innovations in Healthcare: Bridging Science, Access, and Impact. Under the theme, the conference brought together pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, physicians, researchers, educators, healthcare leaders, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders from the United States, Nigeria, and beyond. Participants represented academic institutions, professional and regulatory organizations, government, the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare systems, and traditional institutions.

The conference featured significant participation by faculty, healthcare leaders, professional organizations, and distinguished guests from Nigeria and the diaspora, reflecting NAPPSA’s commitment to strengthening professional and institutional collaboration across borders. Participants included Charles Okechukwu Esimone, Pro-Chancellor, European University of Nigeria; Azuka C. Oparah, Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Benin; and Samuel O. Adekola, Senior Consultant, Ondo State Government of Nigeria.

The conference also highlighted interprofessional and interorganizational collaboration with partner professional associations. Participants included Cyril Usifoh, Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Benin, representing the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria; Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, Registrar, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, representing the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria; Emilia Iwu, Assistant Dean, Center for Global Health, School of Nursing, representing the Nigerian American Nursing Association; and Dr. Obinna Egbo, President and Founder, Zion Medical Group, representing the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas. Their participation broadened the conference dialogue across pharmacy, medicine, nursing, academia, regulation, and professional practice.

NAPPSA further welcomed His Highness Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, Emir of Zazzau and Chairman of the Kaduna State Council of Chiefs, representing Nigeria’s traditional institutions. Nigerian participation also extended to the pharmaceutical industry, including Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals PLC and Kayhelt Pharma, further demonstrating the breadth of engagement across academia, government, professional and regulatory organizations, industry, and traditional institutions.

The four-day program emphasized the translation of scientific and professional innovation into meaningful improvements in healthcare access, pharmaceutical development, pharmacy practice, professional education, and patient outcomes.

Scientific and Educational Highlights.

The scientific program progressed across a series of interconnected themes: strengthening pharmacy education and professional collaboration; globalizing healthcare innovation; improving access through drug development and manufacturing; advancing pharmacy business and professional development; transforming health-system pharmacy practice; and examining emerging developments in clinical therapeutics.

Pharmacy Education, Practice Innovation, and Collaboration.

Thursday’s scientific program opened with Session 100: Bridging Pharmacy Education and Practice Innovation through Collaboration. Presentations addressed diaspora and institutional partnerships in pharmacy education, career transitions across sectors, the evolving role of community pharmacists in value-based care, and translational research focused on improving patient outcomes. The day also featured a multidisciplinary panel on Patient Safety and Shared Risk, bringing together perspectives from pharmacy, medicine, nursing, academia, and professional and regulatory organizations.

Globalizing Innovation in Healthcare.

Friday’s theme session, Session 200: Globalizing Innovations in Healthcare: Bridging Science, Access, and Impact, examined healthcare innovation across emerging and established markets, the measurement of healthcare progress and impact, and the broader challenge of translating innovation across healthcare systems and populations. The session included presentations by Pharmacist Bankole Aminu Ezebuilo, Pharmacist J. Valentine Okelu, and His Highness Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, Emir of Zazzau, on behalf of Professor Mora, followed by moderated discussion.

Drug Development and Manufacturing for Access.

Session 300: Drug Development and Manufacturing for Access: Innovations That Reduce Cost, Complexity, and Risk explored the pharmaceutical continuum from development to manufacturing. Presentations addressed quality risk management, natural products and sustainable innovation, emerging pharmaceutical manufacturing approaches, and global quality standards. The session reinforced the importance of coupling scientific discovery with efficient development, robust quality systems, and sustainable manufacturing to improve access to medicines.

Pharmacy Business and Young Professional Development.

Saturday morning featured parallel sessions. Session 400 examined pharmacy business innovation, peptides in pharmacy practice, and policy and reimbursement trends. Session 500, designed for young professionals, explored the skills and career decisions needed to build successful careers across pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. The panel, What I Wish I Knew Earlier, Career Decisions That Made the Difference, brought together professionals from industry, research, academia, and medical affairs.

Keynote Presentation.

The conference keynote, Session 600, was delivered by Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye, Surgeon-in-Chief at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, on From Fetal Surgery to Fetal Therapy: Globalizing Innovation Through Science, Access, and Impact. The presentation illustrated the progression from scientific and surgical innovation toward therapeutic application and broader patient impact, and was followed by a moderated discussion.

Transforming Health-System Pharmacy Practice.

Saturday afternoon’s Session 700: Transforming Health-System Pharmacy Practice: Access and Impact in Specialized Patient Care examined technology-enabled pharmacy services, telepharmacy and digital care, innovation in hospitals and health systems, and medical billing models that can support expanded pharmacist clinical services.

Developments in Clinical Therapeutics.

Sunday’s Sessions 800 A and 800 B: Developments in Clinical Therapeutics addressed repurposing incretin-based therapies, diet and cardiometabolic health, Type 5 diabetes mellitus, acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease, and bispecific antibody therapy for blood cancers. A concluding moderated discussion examined the implications of these developments for contemporary patient care.

Other Conference Activities.

Continuing Pharmacy Education.

The conference offered nine accredited educational sessions through The Practicing Pharmacists Institute, Inc., an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education accredited provider. Attendees were eligible to earn up to 17.0 contact hours, or 1.70 CEUs, of Continuing Pharmacy Education credit. Requests for credit must be submitted by November 10, 2026.

Organizational Growth and Member Engagement.

As NAPPSA marked its 20th Annual Scientific Conference and Exposition, the Association also recognized continued progress in strengthening its organizational infrastructure, member engagement, philanthropy, and community service. Recent initiatives include modernization of NAPPSA’s digital platforms to support communication, conference engagement, membership registration, renewals, and member services; expansion of fundraising for the NAPPSA Endowment through the 5K FundRace peer-to-peer campaign; establishment of Patron recognition to honor donors and legacy supporters; and the introduction of NAPPSA Cares as a community-service component of the Annual Conference.

Community Engagement and Organizational Impact.

Community service and organizational sustainability remained important components of the conference. NAPPSA Cares included a community Foodbank Drive-Thru and Flu Clinic in Aurora, with influenza vaccines donated by Walgreens. The annual 5K FundRace and Run/Walk engaged 43 member fundraisers and had generated $23,797 by conference week in support of the NAPPSA Endowment Fund.

NAPPSA Foundation.

During the conference, NAPPSA President Dr. Kunle Tometi presented a video highlighting the revitalization of the NAPPSA Foundation and its renewed commitment to translating advances in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences into meaningful, sustainable community impact. The Foundation’s mission is centered on six key areas: scholarships, community service, medical missions, continuing education, research grants, and community education. These initiatives reflect NAPPSA’s dedication to advancing professional development, supporting underserved communities, promoting research and innovation, and improving health outcomes. A major highlight was the Foundation’s flagship fundraising event, the Annual Charity Ball, which raised $55,000 to support these initiatives. This achievement represents an important milestone in strengthening the Foundation’s capacity to expand its philanthropic reach and deliver lasting benefits to communities.

Annual General Membership Meeting.

The NAPPSA Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, providing members an opportunity to review the Association’s activities and progress and participate in organizational governance. The meeting included financial and organizational updates, committee reports, a review of activities and accomplishments since the previous Annual General Meeting, and consideration of matters presented to the membership for action. Two proposals were presented for consideration. One was approved by the membership, while the second was referred back to the Board for further review and consideration.

Conference Recognition and Gala Banquet.

The Conference Gala Banquet brought together members, families, guests, and partners for an evening of fellowship and celebration marking NAPPSA’s 20th Annual Scientific Conference and Exposition. Throughout the conference, NAPPSA honored individuals for their exceptional leadership, dedication, and service. Distinguished Leadership Awards were presented to His Highness Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, Emir of Zazzau, and Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye; the Distinguished Service Award to Nnodum Iheme, Founding President; and Outstanding Service Awards to Dr. Emelia Orubele, Dr. Peter Oraekwe, Dr. Harold Okocha, Dr. Victoria Oshunkentan, and Dr. Anthony Ikeme.

The Gala also celebrated former NAPPSA scholarship recipients who successfully completed their academic programs, including Olajumoke Olateju and Emmanuel Adediran, both 2023 recipients, and Tarilate Temedie-Asogwa, a 2024 recipient. Their achievements demonstrate the lasting impact of NAPPSA’s investment in education and the next generation of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists.

Conference Conclusions and Declarations.

Reflecting on the scientific presentations, panel discussions, and the 2026 conference theme, NAPPSA affirms the following:

• Innovation must deliver measurable health impact. Scientific advances must translate into accessible, affordable solutions that improve patient and community outcomes.
• Global collaboration strengthens healthcare systems. Partnerships among diaspora professionals, academia, industry, regulators, and healthcare organizations are essential to advancing pharmaceutical sciences, education, and healthcare delivery.
• Sustainable medicine access requires innovation across the pharmaceutical continuum. Drug discovery must be supported by efficient development, quality manufacturing, appropriate regulation, and cost-effective delivery.
• Pharmacists must expand their impact. Technology-enabled care, value-based practice, innovative reimbursement, and emerging clinical services offer opportunities to improve healthcare access and outcomes.
• Investing in future professionals is essential. Mentorship, professional development, and interdisciplinary collaboration will prepare the next generation of pharmacy and pharmaceutical science leaders.

Through these commitments, NAPPSA will continue to serve as a platform connecting science, professional expertise, innovation, collaboration, and service in pursuit of stronger pharmaceutical and healthcare systems in Nigeria, the Americas, Africa, and beyond.

Looking Ahead: 21st Annual Conference.

NAPPSA looks forward to its 21st Annual Scientific Conference and Exposition in Portland, Oregon, themed From Innovation to Implementation: Strengthening Pharmaceutical and Health Systems. Building on the 2026 conference, the 2027 meeting will emphasize translating innovation into practical solutions and stronger healthcare systems. Dates and venue will be announced at nappsa.com and nappsa.org.

Exhibitors, Sponsors, and Partners.

The 2026 Conference brought together several exhibitors, providing attendees opportunities to engage with organizations and companies supporting pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical sciences, healthcare innovation, and professional development. NAPPSA gratefully acknowledges its exhibitors and sponsors, including Succeed Consulting for the Friday lunch, InStock Rx for the Friday welcome reception, CHN Advisors for the Saturday lunch, and City Rx for the Sunday breakfast with the Board. Special appreciation goes to Walgreens for donating influenza vaccines to the NAPPSA Cares Flu Clinic. The Association thanks all exhibitors, sponsors, and partners for supporting the success of the 20th Annual Conference.

Acknowledgements.

NAPPSA acknowledges with gratitude its Founders, whose vision and leadership laid the foundation for two decades of scientific exchange, professional collaboration, service, and organizational growth. The Association also recognizes the Past Presidents, Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, NAPPSA Committee Chairs and members, Immediate Past President Emmanuel Ezirim, President-Elect Gerald Muforo, and the entire NAPPSA membership for their continued service, commitment, and support.

Special appreciation is extended to the 2026 Program Committee, chaired by Dr. Victoria Oshunkentan, with Dr. Chinyere Onyebuchi serving as Vice Chair; the National Conference Organizing Committee, chaired by Dr. Gerald Muforo; and the Local Organizing Committee, chaired by Dr. Harold Okocha. NAPPSA also gratefully acknowledges the Session Leads, Dr. Teresa Pounds, Dr. Olu Aloba, Dr. Kunle Tometi, Mr. Felix Egbase, Dr. Juliet Obi, Dr. Patrick Nwakama, and Dr. Nonye Nwaneri-Iwuchukwu, as well as the speakers, moderators, panelists, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, administrative staff, members, guests, and all others whose contributions helped make the 20th Annual Scientific Conference and Exposition a success.

Approved for release by Kunle Tometi, President, NAPPSA. October 17, 2026.