By Rukayat Moisemhe

A Professor of Business Law and Ethics at James Hope University, Ehi Esoimeme, has called for stronger collaboration to tackle counterfeit medicines in Nigeria.

Esoimeme ‌‌⁠‌‌‌‍⁠⁠‍‌‍‍‌⁠⁠‌‌made the call at the investiture of Mrs Osita Chito, the 11th President of the Rotary Club of Abijo, Ibeju-Lekki, and the Board of Directors on Saturday in Lagos.

He described substandard and falsified medicines as a major public health challenge affecting developed and developing countries.

He said the menace placed enormous pressure on national medicines regulatory authorities.

According to him, unscrupulous manufacturers, importers and distributors deliberately target medicines with high consumption rates, particularly those used to treat diseases of public health importance.

“The targeted medicines include antimalarials, antibiotics, antihypertensive drugs, anti-diabetic agents and lifestyle medicines,” he said.

The professor noted that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control was intensifying efforts, alongside other countries, to curb the menace.

He stressed the need for appropriate training and awareness programmes to equip employees and other stakeholders with skills to identify and report unethical practices.

Esoimeme also identified whistleblowing as an important accountability mechanism, urging organisations to establish confidential channels for reporting suspicious activities.

He said effective whistleblowing systems should include dedicated telephone hotlines, email addresses and electronic platforms that allow anonymous reporting.

The professor further advocated collaboration among businesses, suppliers, professional bodies, non-governmental organisations, trade unions and regulatory institutions.

The newly installed president of the club, Rotarian Chito Osita, pledged to prioritise membership growth, strengthen support for The Rotary Foundation and re-engage former members during her 2026/2027 tenure.

Osita said her administration would focus on maternal and child healthcare, education, cancer screening, environmental protection, vocational skills development and community empowerment.

She listed proposed projects to include distributing maternal and nursing kits, prostate and cervical cancer screening, scholarships and support for external examinations.

Other initiatives include free medical check-ups in communities across Ibeju-Lekki, provision of boreholes, environmental sanitation and tree planting.

She also listed the renovation of a police station, youth leadership development and vocational training for women and young people.

Osita announced plans to visit the Badagry Correctional Centre, provide welfare materials to inmates and facilitate the release of eligible inmates.

She said the club had earmarked N48 million for the proposed projects.

Osita called on members, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to support the initiatives, stressing that their successful implementation required collective commitment.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Investiture Committee, Rotarian Walter Idundun, commended the outgoing president and board for their contributions to the club’s growth and community service.

He urged members and partners to sustain their support for the club’s humanitarian activities.

Idundun said the club’s achievements should be measured not only by projects executed but also by lives transformed and positive changes created in communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the investiture marked the beginning of Osita’s tenure as the 11th president of the Rotary Club of Abijo-Ibeju Lekki. (NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma