🚀 A Landmark Success: The 4th Africa E-Market Pharma Conference & Exhibition 2025
On September 9, 2025, Extelhunt Africa brought together pharmaceutical leaders, healthtech innovators, researchers, investors, and regulators at the 4th Africa E-Market Pharma Conference & Exhibition. The outcome? Nothing short of transformative for Africa’s pharmaceutical and healthcare industry.
Hosted virtually, the conference welcomed hundreds of participants from across Africa and the global healthcare ecosystem, creating a dynamic platform for bold conversations and actionable collaborations under the central theme:
“Promoting Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing and Innovation in Africa.”
🔥 What Made This Edition Stand Out?
From the opening session to the closing remarks, the event radiated insight, innovation, and purpose. With a carefully curated agenda, high-impact keynotes, and an interactive exhibition, participants gained clarity on the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa.
Key focus areas included:
✅ Building local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity
✅ Driving innovation and digital transformation in healthtech & medtech
✅ Strengthening regulatory frameworks for global competitiveness
✅ Attracting investment and partnerships to scale Africa’s pharma industry
🌍 A Continent Connected Through Pharma Innovation
Participants tuned in from Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and beyond, reinforcing one truth: Africa has the talent, innovation, and drive to build its own pharmaceutical future.
This edition proved that collaboration across borders is not just possible — it is already happening.
🎤 Echoes of Excellence: Speaker Highlights
Driving Pharmaceutical Self-Reliance Through Intra-African Trade
At the 4th Extelhunt Africa E-Market Pharma Conference & Exhibition 2025, keynote speaker Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Chairman of the Extelhunt Africa Council, delivered a powerful message on pharmaceutical self-reliance in Africa. He called on the continent to strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing and significantly increase intra-African pharma trade.
He reminded participants that Africa trades only 13% within itself, compared to Asia’s 60%, and urged the region to set a bold target of 50% by 2030.
“If Africa does not prepare itself, we will always be left behind.”
Highlighting the role of Extelhunt Africa, he emphasized how the platform can connect manufacturers, researchers, policymakers, and distributors, fostering collaboration and visibility to drive the growth of African pharma manufacturing.
With determination, he concluded, Africa can build a sustainable and competitive pharmaceutical sector and take its rightful place on the global stage.
Prof. Lere Baale’s Keynote on Innovation and African Pharma Sovereignty
At the 4th Extelhunt Africa E-Market Pharma Conference & Exhibition 2025, Prof. Lere Baale delivered a stirring keynote on the urgent need for innovation to strengthen Africa’s pharmaceutical industry and make it globally competitive.
He reminded participants that Africa imports nearly 70% of the medicines it consumes, creating dangerous vulnerabilities. With the African Continental Free Trade Area opening access to a 1.4 billion people market, he stressed that global competitiveness will only come through disciplined innovation in science, regulation, financing, manufacturing, and talent development.
“Without innovation, we will remain customers. With innovation, we become creators and competitors.”
Prof. Baale outlined practical steps, from harmonized regulation to investment in African talent, urging stakeholders to move from isolated efforts to a unified ecosystem. His call was clear: Africa must standardize, innovate, and take action if it is to achieve pharma sovereignty and global respect.
Localizing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients: Africa’s Path to Pharma Sovereignty
Dr. Riad Armanious, CEO of Eva Pharma, delivered a powerful address at the Extelhunt Africa Pharma eMarket Conference 2025, emphasizing the urgent need for Africa to localize Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). He highlighted that true independence in the pharmaceutical sector cannot be achieved while the continent remains dependent on imports for critical raw materials.
According to Dr. Armanious, investing in API development will not only strengthen Africa’s self-reliance but also build resilience against future global disruptions. He stressed that collaboration among African nations, combined with innovation and strategic investments, will accelerate progress toward a more sustainable pharmaceutical ecosystem.
“Africa’s pharmaceutical future lies in our ability to manufacture our own APIs. If we do not localize, we cannot truly be independent.” – Dr. Riad Armanious
Medical Logistics and Cross-Border Trade in Africa: Insights from Red Star Express CEO
At the Extelhunt Africa Pharma eMarket Conference 2025, Babura B. Auwalu, GMD/CEO of Red Star Express PLC, shared practical insights on the challenges and opportunities in pharmaceutical logistics across Africa.
He emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance, noting that pharmaceutical companies must secure key certifications such as NAFDAC registration, export licenses, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificates, and product quality documentation before expanding into regional markets.
Mr. Auwalu highlighted Red Star Express’ long-standing experience as FedEx’s representative in Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and its extensive track record in handling cross-border logistics for pharmaceutical companies across West Africa.
He pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and Nigeria’s National Single Window Initiative as game-changers for reducing bottlenecks and simplifying export procedures. These initiatives, he explained, will make pharmaceutical logistics more seamless, cost-effective, and growth-driven across the continent.
“To succeed in Africa’s pharmaceutical export space, compliance, collaboration, and seamless logistics are non-negotiable.” – Babura B. Auwalu
Adapting Public Policy to Drive Growth of Intra-African Pharmaceutical Trade
At the Extelhunt Africa Pharma eMarket Conference 2025, Dr. Joel Adagadzu, Chairman of the African Pharmaceutical Distribution Platform (APDP), delivered an engaging address on the role of public policy in unlocking Africa’s pharmaceutical potential.
He stressed that Africa cannot maximize the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) without bold and adaptable policies that remove regulatory barriers, harmonize standards, and encourage investment in local pharmaceutical capacity.
Dr. Adagadzu also commended initiatives like Extelhunt Africa, describing them as vital platforms for uniting industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to tackle challenges in pharmaceutical trade and distribution.
“Public policy is the key that will either unlock or limit Africa’s pharmaceutical future. Platforms like Extelhunt Africa ensure the right voices come together to make change happen.” – Dr. Joel Adagadzu
Pharmaceutical Opportunities in Zambia and Southern Africa
At the Extelhunt Africa Pharma eMarket Conference 2025, Mr. Jerome Kanyika highlighted Zambia’s heavy reliance on imports—over 90% of its medicines come from abroad. He pointed to the government’s Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Initiative Plan as a game-changer, offering tax incentives and guaranteed procurement to boost local production.
He urged Africans to take the lead in investing in pharmaceutical plants, reducing dependency on imports, and building resilience.
“The African problem will be solved by Africans themselves. We must own and invest in our pharmaceutical plants if we truly want to progress.” – Jerome Kanyika
Mr. Kanyika also commended platforms like Extelhunt Africa for uniting stakeholders to advance AfCFTA-driven pharmaceutical trade.
Looking Ahead: Building Africa’s Pharmaceutical Future
The Extelhunt Africa Pharma eMarket Conference 2025 brought together visionary leaders, policymakers, and industry experts who shared actionable insights on AfCFTA-driven trade, local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and sustainable medicine distribution across Africa.
The discussions made one thing clear: collaboration is the key. By aligning policy, investment, and innovation, Africa can reduce its dependence on imports and build a resilient, self-sufficient pharmaceutical sector.
At Extelhunt Africa, we remain committed to being the platform where these conversations turn into partnerships that shape the future of healthcare and pharma trade in Africa.
📈 Building Africa’s Next Chapter
The 2025 edition proved that Africa’s pharmaceutical and healthcare ecosystem is stronger than ever. With forward-looking insights, cross-border business engagement, and actionable strategies, Extelhunt Africa continues to drive collaboration that shapes the future of trade and healthcare on the continent.
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