THE CEO OF EMZOR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
– DR. STELLA CHINYELU OKOLI
Another pursuit in excellence, another bar broken. From a young age, attended a prominent school and pursued a career in medicine.
This feat is marked by true dedication and the ability to let the inner passion drive, and as a result lead to making significant impact in the society.
Dr. Stella Chinyelu Okoli (MON, OON) born on the 30th of July, 1944 in Kano, Nigeria, into the family of Felix Ebelechukwu and Margaret Modebelu, descents of Nnewi clan in Anambra State. She is a pharmacist, philanthropist and entrepreneur. The founder and current chief executive officer of Emzor pharmaceutical manufacturing company. She started her formal education in 1954 as a pupil at All Saints Primary School, Onitsha before proceeding to complete her secondary school education in the year 1964 at Ogidi Girls Secondary School, Ogidi, Anambra, and the federal science school in Lagos State.
In 1969, she graduated from the University of Bradford after studying Pharmacy. She holds an M.Sc. certificate in Biopharmaceutical from the University of London, Chelsea College.
She is also an alumnus of Lagos Business School, Harvard Business School, Boston and I.E.S.E Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
Stella began working as a ward/ clinical pharmacist at Middlesex Hospital in London and later briefly as a pharmacist at Boots Drugstore UK. On her return to Nigeria, she worked briefly at Massey Children Hospital in Lagos before joining Park Davies Nigeria Limited (now Pharma-Deko Plc).
Dr. Stella married in the year 1970 to,Barr. Christopher Nnaemeka Okoli, and were blessed with three children; Emeka Okoli, Uzoma Okoli and Chike Okoli.
In January of 1977, Dr.Stella started Emzor Pharmaceutical with the initial name “Emzor Chemists Limited” as a small pharmacy retail shop in Somolu, Lagos State. Since then,Emzor Pharmaceutical has become one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria with over 50 products since its incorporation. In 1981, Okoli founded Emzor Drugstore Ltd., where she imported pharmaceutical products into Nigeria and operated a wholesale business to meet the healthcare needs of Nigerian consumers. Eventually, her company began manufacturing medicines locally to make healthcare products more affordable in Nigeria.
A current member of the Economic Summit of Nigeria and the Health Matters Advisory Board of Nigeria, Stella Okoli currently serves as the Vice President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
She has also served as Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. Okoli is also a member of the Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council. In 2010, she became a non-executive director of Guaranty Trust Bank.
After the death of her son Chike Okoli in 2005, that marked a remarkable turning point in life. She started the Chike Okoli Foundation in 2006 as a non-profit organisation founded with the aim of fighting against poverty and diseases by raising awareness on cardiovascular diseases, and intending to promote healthy lifestyles and entrepreneurial skills among Nigerian youth. Since its inception, the Foundation has trained thousands of business owners and budding entrepreneurs. In 2011, the Foundation established the Chike Okoli Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe College in Awka. This center provides entrepreneurial research, training, and education for youth. The foundation also offers free health services and lectures worldwide on the impact of heart disease and stroke.
Her works and contributions to the society has not gone unnoticed,as she had gotten the recognition she deserves;
•International Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) Award.
•CePATHonors Lifetime Achievement Award 2014.
•Ernst and Young Lifetime Achievement Award 2016.
•Institute of Directors Lifetime Achievement Award 2016.
•Honorary Doctor of Business Administration by Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (2011)
•Silverbird Lifetime Achievement Award (2018)
•Nigeria Royalty Awards (2013)
•Business Person of the Year at the Sun Newspaper Awards (2016)
•Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (2017).
•Honoured at the 17th ThisDay Annual Awards: Women of Distinction and Lifetime Achievers (2012).
•A recipient of the ECOWAS International Gold Award.
She has been conferred with the Member of Order of Nigeria, MON and the Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON by the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Emzor pharmaceutical has stand out, cause of its organization and work ethics in team members, which have at various times attended technical and management training programs within and outside Nigeria, like the; Manesty Machines Limited, UK, Horn + Noack ROMACO Pharmatechnik GmbH, IMA Industria Machine Automatiche Spa etc. Training on international analytical validation was organized by AMSCO / APDF, UK.
The sales force consists of more than 40 highly trained medical\sales representative. The scientists are in constant touch with the latest information and emerging global trends in pharmaceutical research and development. The skillful audit team ensures compliance with management policies and statutory regulations in order to reduce unintentional mistakes and irregularities.
One of the most important aspect in life,is leading and Dr.Stella with establishment of Emzor and the Chike Okoli foundation has ruled with love,thus for the progress in each establishment. Goals are attainable, but would only come to reality,if the mind gets to work in a positive environment.
TAGS: DR.STELLA CHINYELU OKOLI
THE CEO OF EMZOR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
MYSTORY NIGERIA
PATRICK KOKOMMA
