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By Bolaji Okunola
Pharma West Africa will return on April 14, reinforcing its position as Africa’s leading international trade exhibition for the pharmaceutical and pharmacy sector.
Now in its third edition, the three-day event is expected to attract more than 250 exhibitors and over 4,500 visitors, highlighting its rapid growth and increasing relevance within the industry.
The exhibition will feature prominent country pavilions from China, the Government of Saint Petersburg, Turkey, Bangladesh, and Egypt, alongside exhibitors from India, Vietnam, Canada, the United States, the Middle East, and Europe. Strong regional participation is also anticipated, with manufacturers, suppliers, and importers from Nigeria, Ghana, and across West Africa.
The show, scheduled to take place from April 14 to 16 at the Landmark Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, Pharma West Africa has quickly become a key meeting point for stakeholders across the pharmaceutical value chain.
The event reflects both the rising demand within the local pharmaceutical market and growing global interest in the region. Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector recorded an estimated ₦2.54 trillion (US$1.84 billion) in revenue in 2025, with projections indicating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.41% over the next five years. Across West Africa, the market generated over ₦4.12 trillion (US$2.99 billion) in the same period.
Organised by BtoB Events, the exhibition continues to draw strong endorsement from industry leaders. Founder and CEO Jamie Hill highlighted the event’s rapid success, noting that it now hosts exhibitors from more than 50 countries.
He emphasized that the platform uniquely brings together a diverse mix of businesses—from local SMEs to global pharmaceutical brands—focused on improving access to quality medicines across Nigeria and the wider region. According to him, importers and distributors account for 43% of attendees, while pharmacy retail representatives make up about one-third, underlining the event’s commercial value.
Pharma West Africa also attracts high-level buyers from across the continent, including Ghana, Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Rwanda, Kenya, Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco.
A major highlight of the event is the Pharma West Africa Conference, which will run alongside the exhibition. Chaired by Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, former president of the Nigerian Pharmaceutical Society and Managing Director of Pharmaplus Nigeria Ltd., the conference will focus on strengthening pharmaceutical supply chains to support medicine self-sufficiency in West Africa.
Accredited for continuing professional development (CPD), sessions will also explore the growing role of digital technology and artificial intelligence in the sector.
Additionally, the Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Dealers Association of Nigeria (PWDAN) will host its Annual Conference on the final day, addressing strategies to combat substandard and falsified medicines through stronger supply chain systems.
