📖 ABSTRACT/OVERVIEW
Industrial pharmacy practice encompasses drug manufacturing, formulation development, quality assurance, and regulatory affairs, representing a critical sector of the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria. Despite national efforts to grow local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, pharmacy students' perceptions and career orientation toward industrial pharmacy remain understudied. This study assessed the perceptions, career interests, and awareness of industrial pharmacy practice among undergraduate pharmacy students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of 260 pharmacy students across levels two to five was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Variables assessed included knowledge of industrial pharmacy functions, career interest, perceptions of remuneration and career growth, and barriers to pursuing industrial pharmacy after graduation. Findings indicated that only 37 percent of students had a clear understanding of industrial pharmacist roles beyond drug manufacturing. Interest in industrial pharmacy as a career was expressed by 44 percent, but only 21 percent indicated it as their first career choice. Barriers cited included perceived lower salaries compared to clinical and community pharmacy, limited industry attachment opportunities, and inadequate exposure to industrial settings during training. Students who had completed an industrial attachment showed significantly higher career interest in the sector. The study recommends enhanced industrial pharmacy education within the curriculum, increased industry attachments, and stronger university-industry collaborations to attract talented graduates to Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturing. Keywords: industrial pharmacy, pharmacy students, career perception, Ahmadu Bello University, pharmaceutical manufacturing
Need Complete Chapters of the Above Topic?
Get high-quality, Zero-AI research materials with current citations.
Request via WhatsApp 💬