Business
NAFDAC DG PAYS A WORKING VISIT TO EMZOR CAMPUS
NAFDAC DG PAYS A WORKING VISIT TO EMZOR CAMPUS
About Emzor
Sahara Weekly Reports Emzor is a privately owned indigenous pharmaceutical company founded in 1984 by Dr. Stella Okoli. The Company has grown into a legacy pharmaceutical company with 4 modern factories that manufacture over 140 world-class pharmaceutical products, such as analgesics (the widely used Emzor Paracetamol), vitamins, haematinics, anti-malarial, anti-tussive, antibiotics, antihelminthic, anti-histamine, antacid, and cardio-protective drugs.
Emzor has a network of over 120 distributors covering public and private institutions across West Africa. Emzor is the largest indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturer in the country with over 120 products, all NAFDAC approved.
THE FACTORY VISIT
The NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye in company of Dr. Monica Eimunjeze (Director, Drug Registration And Regulatory Affairs (DRRA); Mrs Ijeoma Nwankwo, U. (Director, Drug Evaluation & Research (DER) and Dr. Gbenga Fajemirokun (SA-DG NAFDAC) visited the Ultra-Modern Pharma Factory known as Emzor Campus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) compliant factory is sited on more than 60 Hectares of land at the Shagamu Interchange of the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway and is the largest pharmaceutical facility in West Africa.
The factory is also (cGMP) compliant and has already manufactured and supplied millions of doses of medication ranging from antimalarials, paediatric care, vitamins and antiretrovirals to various international organizations through partnerships for public health intervention.
DURING THE VISIT
MRS. Uzoma Ezeoke the EDG. Emzor briefed the NAFDAC team on the Emzor Emzor group’s progress from inception to date. She said that the company has grown from the days of drug sales & marketing to manufacturing for the local and African market to exportation to UK and Netherlands in Europe and the United States of America.
This is in line with the Emzor group’s goal to be the number one name in pharmaceuticals on the African continent.
After the NAFDAC teams tour of the Factory; the team addressed their host, the Emzor group.
The NAFDAC DG, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye says “I taught pharmaceutical manufacturing in the United States for 19 years and I usually would take my students to pharmaceutical companies as an extension of the class because I believe in experiential. Part of the training is the facility tour.
This facility that we have seen today can stand beside any facility in the US. To see what Emzor is doing gladdens my heart and makes us know that we can do it”.
She commended the Emzor work force on their dedication and commitment to the vision of Dr. Stella Okoli for the pharmaceuticals industry in Nigeria as well as upholding the standards set by NAFDAC under the management’s new structure and standards in the last three years to regulate the pharmaceutical industry in line with global best practices regulatory bodies.
She particularly praised the Emzor groups consumer targeted production and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) compliance. She said that Emzor is indeed a trail blazer of the industry and has indeed archived its vision of being the number one pharmaceuticals manufacturing company on the continent.
She concluded by affirming that Emzor has proven that anything is possible in Nigeria that whatever industry you operate in, if you build it to global standard the world will come to us.
Dr. Monica Eimunjeze (Director, Drug Registration and Regulatory Affairs (DRRA) also praised Emzor facility’s quality control and compliance with the NAFDAC regulations. She said that she had postponed her visit times before but is glad to have finally made it to the factory; that the world class facility is indeed a pride to the pharmaceutical industry and Nigeria.
She also praised the Emzor youth workforce that the future of the industry is assured with the training this young generation is being exposed at Emzor. That she’s particularly proud of the workforce especially the fact that the Emzor workforce is usually well represented like no other at NAFDAC organized trainings. She said that she expects an increase in the Emzor group international manufacturing partnerships.
Mrs. Ijeoma Nwankwo, U. (Director, Drug Evaluation & Research (DER) applauded the young workforce; the Vaccines and new Emzor API manufacturing Technology Transfer and licensing agreement with India’s Mangalam Drugs & Organic Limited to locally manufacture and distribute Active Pharmaceutical ingredients (4 API’s) for the treatment and prevention of malaria.
This leads to the development of a world class API manufacturing facility in compliance with international standards and the first of its kind in Sub- Saharan Africa.
Dr. Gbenga Fajemirokun (Special Assistant to the DG NAFDAC) also praised Dr. Stella Okoli for the young workforce and said seeing some of his old students working on such world class premises was a pride.
Dr. Stella Okoli thanked the NAFDAC team for taking the time out of their busy schedule to honor the Emzor family’s invitation to tour the WHO compliant facility. She reiterated that the Emzor group is committed to raising standards in the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria and Africa.
Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs have collectively created 1.5 million jobs and generated $4.2 billion in revenue — Over 2 million Africans lifted out of poverty.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy empowering entrepreneurs is set to announce the 11th cohort of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
The 2025 announcement comes at a critical time, as Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem faces funding constraints and global economic headwinds. TEF continues to provide much-needed support, empowering African entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into sustainable businesses and engines of economic growth.
Each selected Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur will receive $5,000 non-refundable seed capital, a world-class business training on TEFConnect, one-on-one mentorship, and access to global networks and investment opportunities. The selection process is being conducted by Ernst & Young, to ensure independent assessment.
The impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation extends beyond funding. It is changing lives and shaping Africa’s future, as witnessed by beneficiaries of the catalytic TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.
Ahead of the upcoming announcement, Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R., Founder of TEF and Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, reiterates his unwavering belief in the potential of Africa’s entrepreneurs:
“I believe that Africa’s transformation will not be led by aid, but by empowering the next generation of African entrepreneurs—giving them the tools, the funding, the training, and the networks to build sustainable businesses that create jobs and drive economic growth.
Over the past decade, we have nurtured entrepreneurs from inception to success, scaling our impact across all 54 African countries. We have provided capital and also developed a robust monitoring and evaluation framework that allows us to track the progress of our entrepreneurs and measure their contributions to their communities and economies.
No other organisation is implementing entrepreneurship development at this scale across Africa. We have learned, we have refined, and we continue to improve, ensuring that African entrepreneurs—women and men—are at the forefront of solving our continent’s challenges and creating wealth for themselves and their communities. Entrepreneurship is the key to Africa’s prosperity. I wish the 2025 cohort of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs success, as they chase their ambitions, and play their part in Africa’s transformation.”
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation across all 54 African countries and ensuring inclusive economic empowerment.
Since the launch of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, TEF has lifted over 2 million Africans out of poverty, provided 2.5 million young Africans with access to training on TEFConnect, and disbursed more than $100millon in direct funding to thousands of African entrepreneurs who have gone on to create over 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs and generate over $4.2 billion in revenue.
For more details on the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s impact visit our Impact Page, African Success Stories Page, and Annual Report Page.
For Media Inquiries: media@tonyelumelufoundation.org
Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur Testimonials from Previous Years:
“I started my agribusiness with nothing but an idea. TEF changed everything. With the funding, training, and mentorship, I have now expanded across three countries and employ 25 people.”
– Fatima Diallo, Senegal, Agritech Entrepreneur
“As a woman in the fintech industry, it was difficult to secure funding. TEF not only provided me with capital but also the confidence and skills to build a business that is now attracting international investors.”
– Mary Okeke, Nigeria, Fintech Founder
“The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme helped me commercialise my clean energy innovation. Today, we provide solar solutions to over 50,000 homes in rural Tanzania.”
– Juma Nyerere, Tanzania, Renewable Energy Entrepreneur
For more details on the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s impact visit our Impact Page, African Success Stories Page, and Annual Report Page.
For Media Inquiries: media@tonyelumelufoundation.org
Business
Federal Government Moves to Slash Sky-High Airfares as Minister Keyamo Exposes Airline Tactics
Federal Government Moves to Slash Sky-High Airfares as Minister Keyamo Exposes Airline Tactics
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has vowed to tackle the exorbitant cost of air tickets for both domestic and international flights, revealing major efforts to cut costs, enhance airport safety, and address airline pricing manipulations.
Speaking at the Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Keyamo exposed a series of economic and policy-based factors that have led to the skyrocketing price of flight tickets, making air travel increasingly unaffordable for Nigerians.
Why Are Airfares So Expensive? The Inside Story
Keyamo broke down the root causes of excessive ticket pricing, which include:
Limited access to affordable aircraft leasing, forcing Nigerian airlines to either lease aircraft at exorbitant rates or buy aircraft outright—a cost that ultimately burdens passengers. Foreign airlines deliberately inflating ticket prices for Nigerian travelers due to fears of trapped funds and currency depreciation. Heavy government-imposed airport taxes, which are among the highest in Africa, further pushing up fares.
Foreign Airlines Caught in the Act? Keyamo Exposes Pricing Tricks
In a shocking revelation, Keyamo unveiled how foreign airlines had been exploiting Nigerian travelers by restricting them to only the highest-priced tickets.
“We called international airlines and asked what they used to do. They said if you want to buy international tickets, you will see business class Z, grade J, different grades, but it’s all the same. One can be N2 million cheaper than the other. Those ones, they opened for countries where they could get their money immediately. But they now opened only the high fare for Nigerian passengers,” he disclosed.
He explained that because foreign airlines feared currency depreciation, they set high fares in anticipation of inflation affecting their trapped funds.
“They said because they were taking into account inflationary rates of the money that will be trapped, they didn’t know when they would get it back. So instead of selling a ticket for N2 million or N3 million, they sold it for N7 million. Meanwhile, Ghana had lower ticket prices,” he added.
Government’s Response: No More Exploitation!
The government, according to Keyamo, is actively engaging foreign airlines to adjust their pricing in line with the recently cleared backlog of trapped funds.
“President Bola Tinubu, being very smart on this, cleared that first. But even after clearing the backlog, they were still enjoying the high fares. So we told them, ‘No, you cannot continue to do this. The excuse is gone. Nigerian passengers must now get fair pricing like other countries.’”
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is leading discussions with these airlines to force a price adjustment, ensuring that Nigerians no longer face inflated airfares.
Airport Taxes: Another Major Culprit
Keyamo acknowledged that Nigeria’s airport taxes are among the highest in Africa, further worsening ticket prices. However, he emphasized that reducing these taxes is not solely within his power, as it requires collaboration with the Ministry of Finance.
“The Nigerian Airspace Management Authority and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria are reviewing these charges, but I cannot singlehandedly reduce them. It involves the Minister of Finance,” he clarified.
He stressed that airlines pass these high taxes directly to passengers, further inflating ticket costs.
What Lies Ahead? Promises of Cheaper Flights Soon
Keyamo assured Nigerians that with ongoing government interventions—including negotiations with foreign airlines, new aircraft leasing agreements, and possible tax reductions—airfares will soon become more affordable.
“We are addressing these issues. The results will soon be visible with the Cape Town Convention and the Dublin Conference. The deals are coming in, and we will see the results soon,” he promised.
Final Verdict: Relief in Sight or Another Empty Promise?
While the Federal Government’s efforts signal hope for Nigerian travelers, many remain skeptical about whether these promises will translate into real, affordable ticket prices. Will Keyamo’s intervention finally ground the exploitative pricing system, or will passengers continue to pay the price for policy failures? Nigerians are watching closely.
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