The National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi.
The Academy described his death as the end of an era and the loss of a national icon.
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Pharm. Prof. Lere Baale, Secretary-General, Pharm. Lekan Asuni, the Academy, paid glowing tribute to Sir Atueyi, noting that his contributions to the pharmacy profession, healthcare communication, and ethical leadership will remain indelible in Nigeria’s history.
“In the quiet hours of Tuesday, July 15, 2025,” the statement read, “a luminous star in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and healthcare firmament transitioned to eternal glory. At 85, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi passed on peacefully, leaving behind a towering legacy built on service, integrity, faith, and innovation.”
They said as founder and publisher of Pharmanews, Nigeria’s foremost pharmaceutical and health journal established in 1979, Sir Atueyi redefined the landscape of healthcare communication across West Africa. In an era when pharmacy lacked visibility in the media, he took a bold step to give the profession a platform and a voice.
According to them, for more than four decades, Pharmanews became not just a publication, but a movement, a vibrant channel that amplified the voices of pharmacists, bridged the gap between professionals and the public, and highlighted the evolution of healthcare in Nigeria. Atueyi’s editorial pen was driven by wisdom, purpose, and a spiritual call to service.
Sir Atueyi authored several books combining pharmaceutical expertise with spiritual insight, encouraging generations of professionals to see their work as a divine calling. A Knight of the Order of Saint Christopher (KSC), he modelled a life of discipline, prayer, simplicity, and purpose.
He also institutionalised the culture of celebrating the elders of pharmacy through interviews, tributes, and commemorative articles, ensuring that their stories were not lost to time but passed on to inspire future generations.
