Pharma West Africa Leaders Club Hosts Insightful 4th Quarterly Dinner in Lagos

The Pharma West Africa Leaders Club hosted the fourth edition of its quarterly dinner on Tuesday, 10th June 2025, at Four Points by Sheraton, gathering a select group of pharmacy leaders under its distinguished banner.

One of the key highlights of the evening was the powerful reminder that staying informed about one’s professional terrain is non-negotiable—especially for those trained to identify white space: the uncluttered regions of opportunity that require not only vision but the courage to act.

The central message echoed throughout the evening: with a mindset geared to win, the chances of winning increase exponentially.

Attendees benefited from the profound insights of Prof. Lere Baale, CEO of Business School Netherlands International and President of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, alongside Pharm. Olu Akanmu, former Managing Director of Opay and currently Executive in Residence and Academic Director at the Lagos Business School Tech-Leap Initiative. The two speakers generously shared their “insight, hindsight, and foresight” with attendees.

Key takeaways included:

1. There remains a viable, untapped market within Nigeria’s pharmaceutical space—across all strata. It is up to industry players to convert this potential.
2. Industry professionals should leverage opportunities created by new policies and technological advancements—and remain agile.
3. Purposeful and meaningful business building is essential, as the market rewards value creation.
4. There is a pressing need for an unbiased coalition to inform and advocate policy—akin to the role Open Banking has played in the financial sector—to ensure the sustainability of the pharmaceutical field.
5. Borrowing ideas across regions and sectors should not be discouraged. Innovation flourishes through cross-pollination and the willingness to experiment.

Beyond the shared knowledge, the dinner provided a welcome opportunity for peers to reconnect. The organisers extended appreciation to the event sponsors for their ongoing commitment to continuity and leadership in the sector.

The event was supported by Ahmed I. Yakasai, mni, FPSN, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, PSN-Young Pharmacists Group, PWDAN, Emzor, Jawa, Maisha Meds, and Codix.