Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has held its 405th Inaugural Lecture, delivered by Professor Margaret Olubunmi Afolabi, the first female Professor of Pharmacy Administration in West Africa.
Speaking on the topic “Beyond Counting, Pouring and Sticking: Managing Pharmacy Operations for Quality Service”, Prof Afolabi argued that pharmacists in Nigeria remain underutilised despite being highly trained and trusted professionals.
She said the profession must move beyond routine dispensing to embrace a patient-centred approach to healthcare. Drawing on nearly four decades of research, she highlighted long waiting times, weak work systems and poor integration of pharmacists’ expertise in hospitals as significant challenges.
Prof Afolabi urged a redesign of pharmacy operations to prioritise patient care, warning that delays in dispensing medicines undermine satisfaction and trust. She recommended adopting automation and digital technology to reduce routine tasks and enable pharmacists to focus more on clinical roles.
She concluded by stressing that Pharmacy Administration equips practitioners with leadership and problem-solving skills essential for improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
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