By Modupe Gbadeyanka
One of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, has announced the appointment of Mr Matthew Obi Azoji as its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.
This followed the approval of the appointment by the board of the firm.
Mr Azoji, who is expected to assume duty as the MD/CEO of Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc on Friday, February 1, 2019, will have his appointment ratified by shareholders of the company at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Mr Azoji graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-lfe, Osun State, where he obtained his B. Pharm (First Class Honours). He went on to obtain an MBA (Marketing) from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, and an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) from the Lagos Business School; Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.
He obtained certificates in Pharmaceutical Policy & Pharmacoeconomics from Utrecht University in the Netherlands (a WHO Collaborating centre), and went on to get his M.Sc. in Public health from the University of London, International Programmes. He obtained his M.Phil (Pharmacy Administration) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-lfe. Presently, a PhD (Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice) from the University of Jos, Jos Plateau State is in view.
Mr Azoji is Fellow, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN) and Fellow, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (FPCPHARM). He is a Member, International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), Founding Member, Health Systems Action Network (HSAN), Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM), Member, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria and Member, Nigerian Association of Industrial Pharmacists.
He began his professional career as a Hospital Pharmacist at General Hospital Saminaka, Kaduna State in 1986 serving our country during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year. Prior to this, he had a one year internship programme at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-lfe as a Demonstrator/lnternee. He had a brief stint with Astra-Arewa Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Kaduna as a Medical Representative based in Kano. He joined May & Baker Nigeria Plc in 1988, and served there till 2004, during which time he rose from the position of Medical Representative to occupy the positions of Asst. Manager – Ethical Product Sales, Area Manager – North, Sales & Market Development Manager, Regional Sales Manager Lagos/South West, Business Manager – Healthcare, Business Manager – Consumer and Head, Corporate Planning & Development. He was the pioneer MD/CEO, CHAN Medi-Pharm Ltd/Gte, Jos, Plateau State from 2004 till September 2018.
Mr Azoji currently leads the executive and management teams of Biovaccines Nigeria Ltd, a public-private partnership company between the Federal Government of Nigeria and May & Baker Nigeria Plc.
He served on the Boards of Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) and Africa Christian Health Associations Platform (ACHAP) both based in Nairobi, Kenya; contributing to enhance access to quality pharmaceutical and other health services to people in Africa and the rest of the world.
He is reputed to be a performance driven professional with over 20 years’ experience at senior level as a leader in the pharmaceutical and public health sectors of Nigeria. With proven skills in managing Start-up businesses; Pharmaceutical Sales & Marketing, Public Health and Business Strategy, he is a strong business and product development professional with first class honours in Pharmacy, and three masters’ degree in Business Administration, Public Health and Pharmacy Administration. He is widely travelled, locally and internationally, and builds effective teams and partnership with diverse people.
