The Federal Government has called on newly inducted public analysts to uphold integrity and reject all forms of compromise, as the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) admitted 49 professionals into the sector.
Speaking at the induction ceremony held in Abuja over the weekend, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, emphasised the importance of evidence-based practice in protecting public health and ensuring product safety.
“Say no to compromise, bias, negligence, and assumptions. Always uphold result-driven, evidence-based analysis,” Salako said.
The minister, who was represented by the Director of Drug and Food Services, Olufowobi-Yusuf Adeola, described the induction as a milestone aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s analytical and regulatory systems.
Salako noted that public analysts play a critical role in ensuring that food, drugs, water, cosmetics, and environmental elements meet required standards.
Salako added that the theme of the induction lecture, “Laboratory Leadership: Merging Science and Business Acumen,” highlights the need for professionals to combine technical expertise with leadership and innovation to tackle emerging challenges.
The IPAN Registrar, Aliyu Angara, disclosed that only 49 out of 102 applicants were successful, representing a 48 per cent pass rate.
Angara said the inductees include experienced professionals such as professors, senior lecturers, public sector directors, and industry experts.
According to him, the institute’s regulatory role focuses on practitioners and laboratories, ensuring that analyses guiding product safety are credible and reliable.
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“We are the unseen force behind quality assurance. Without proper analysis, it is impossible to determine whether a product is safe,” Angara said.
He, however, raised concerns about unqualified individuals issuing fake laboratory reports without conducting proper analysis, warning that such practices pose serious risks to public health.
Angara urged manufacturers and companies to engage certified analysts to improve product quality and strengthen consumer confidence.
The Chairman of IPAN’s 4th Governing Council, Dr Dahiru Adamu, blamed Nigeria’s slow development on poor adherence to quality standards.
Adamu stressed that analysts must remain objective and resist undue influence.
“Integrity, dignity, and professionalism must guide your work. Safety should always come first,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the 6th Governing Council, Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, described the induction as a significant step in elevating professional recognition within the institute.
He urged inductees to make meaningful contributions and uphold the core values of the profession.
Delivering the induction lecture, the President of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. Ibrahim Ahmed, warned of a growing crisis of counterfeit products in the country, describing it as a threat to public health and economic stability.
He noted that fake and substandard products contribute to treatment failures, drug resistance, and preventable deaths, while also discouraging investment and weakening export potential.