By Kingsley Adegboye

The third Pharma West Africa annual Conference will focus on strengthening the region’s medicines supply chain and boosting self-sufficiency in medication production when it opens on April 14.

The conference will bring together pharmaceutical industry experts, regulators and IT developers to discuss key issues affecting the sector, with particular emphasis on how digital technology and artificial intelligence are transforming the medicines supply chain.

Other topics expected to feature prominently include the development of regional manufacturing hubs, financing and investment opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector, and the role of regulatory frameworks in strengthening the security of medicines supply.
Stakeholders at the conference will also examine how improving accessibility to medicines can help make them more affordable for patients by encouraging increased local production and greater self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Established in 2024, Pharma West Africa has quickly grown into a major gathering for stakeholders in the medicines industry. The conference will run alongside a three-day exhibition expected to feature more than 250 exhibitors from around the world and attract an estimated 4,500 visitors.
The event will take place from April 14 to April 16 at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Former president of the Nigerian Pharmaceutical Society and founder and Managing Director of Pharmaplus Nigeria Ltd., Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, will serve as the conference chairman and has led the programme committee.
“I’m delighted that we have been able to continually evolve the discussions at Pharma West Africa Conference and bring together such an impressive range of medicines industry experts, regulators and innovators,” Yakasai said.
“This year’s content will spend a lot of time looking at the many ways digital technology and AI can support the sector from helping manufacturers improve capacity and quality control through to how it can strengthen the supply chain, but also how it will lead to innovation in drug development, safety and efficacy.
“Central to these discussions will be how this can all be used to benefit patients. For example, one of the sessions will consider the impact of digital transformations, such as e-pharmacy, medication delivery apps and telehealth for patient consultations.”
The conference will feature a wide range of speakers, including the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, alongside senior directors of regulatory and professional bodies from Nigeria, Gambia, Benin, Cameroon and Sierra Leone.
Entrepreneurs and senior executives from organisations and companies such as Advantage Health Africa, DrugStoc, IntraHub Technologies, JNC International, Peltom Global Services, Purelife Pharmacy, Transcends Pharmaceuticals, HubPharm Africa and Medinomic Healthcare Services are also expected to participate.
The third day of the conference will be hosted by the Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distributors Association of Nigeria. Discussions will focus on how strengthening the medicines supply chain can help curb the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines while enhancing the integrity of pharmaceutical distribution in the country.