By Kingsley Adegboye

Set to open on April 14th, Pharma West Africa will be consolidating its role as Africa’s largest international trade event for the pharmaceutical and pharmacy sector.

With more than 250 exhibitors signed up, the event is expected to see more than 4,500 visitors attend the three days evet.

Key attractions will be country pavilions from China, the Government of Saint Petersburg, Turkey, Bangladesh, and Egypt. Other international exhibitors will come from countries such as India, Vietnam, Canada, the USA and from the Middle East and Europe.

Many medicines manufacturers, suppliers and importers from Nigeria, Ghana and the region will also be taking part.

Now in its third year, Pharma West Africa has become firmly established as the must attend event for anyone involved in medicines and their supply in Africa. It takes place from April 14th to 16th at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event has responded to the demand for the local pharmaceutical trade and the growing international interest in medicines supply; Nigeria’s pharmaceuticals sector saw estimated revenues of ₦ 2.54 trillion (US$1.84bn) in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) forecast of 6.41percent over the next five years. Across Western African, the pharmaceutical market achieved a revenue of more than ₦4,120 billion (US$2.99bn) in 2025.

Pharma West Africa is organised by BtoB Events. Founder and CEO Jamie Hill notes how successful the event has become with huge local and international interest.

“In just three years we have built a pharmaceutical trade event that will see 250 exhibitors from more than 50 countries attracting an estimated 4,500 visitors over three days.

“From local SMEs to leading global drug brands, Pharma West Africa is the only event to host such a diverse range of businesses dedicated to ensuring the supply of quality medicines to Nigeria and the West African region. Exhibitors appreciate the valuable interaction they have with importers and distributors, who make up 43 percent of attendees, and the hundreds of representatives of pharmacy retail chains, accounting for another third.

“Visitors come from across the region and we can proudly say that we partner with high-quality international VIP hosted buyers from Ghana, Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Rwanda, Kenya, Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and beyond.”

Adding to the visitor attractions is the Pharma West Africa Conference. This runs alongside the exhibition, with a programme chaired by Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, former president of the Nigerian Pharmaceutical Society and the founder and Managing Director of Pharmaplus Nigeria Ltd.

Accredited for pharmacy continuing professional development (CPD), presentations will centre on the theme of strengthening the pharmaceutical supply chain to support medicines self-sufficiency in West Africa, and in particular the role digital technology and AI will play.

The Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Dealers Association of Nigeria (PWDAN), Annual Conference, taking place on the third day will consider how strengthening the medicines supply chain will curb substandard and falsified medicines.