Dr. Stella Chinyelu “Emzor” Okoli At 80

EMEKA OPARAH 

Unfortunately, the sudden passing of Onyeka Onwenu, who performed at her 80th birthday celebration shortly before her death, may have taken the sheen off the deserved celebration of the life another stallion, Dr. Stella Okoli a.k.a Madam Emzor.

In a nutshell, Mrs. Okoli is a Nigerian pharmacist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur and the founder of Emzor, a pharmaceutical company she started in 1977.

Our paths crossed in 1994, when I managed the Emzor account as a Client Service Executive in Richland Communications, a Surulere, Lagos-based advertising agency founded by her younger brother, Ike Modebelu.

I had the privilege (yes privilege!) of meeting Madam literally every week together with my friend, Chidi Okoro, ex-MTN, ex-Reckitt Benkister, ex-GSK, ex-this, ex-that, who was then the Head of Marketing in the Aswani, Isolo, Lagos-based pharmaceutical company known then for its famous Emzor Paracetamol.

That was my first encounter with an entrepreneur and an illustrious, indefatigable, diligent, dedicated, professional and passionate one for that matter. While we discussed Marketing Communications, Madam took moments to attend to several other matters including Finance, Engineering, Power Generation, Distribution, name it.

One of the things that struck me about her was her “addiction” to fitness. Right behind her desk was a door that led to her gym. I did meet her a few times just after her workout sweating and looking absolutely fit and gorgeous. At 80, she still looks really good-one of the dividends of a healthy lifestyle.

The history of the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria, especially the segment on local production, cannot be complete without a generous mention of her sterling contributions. During the era of the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, Emzor played a leading role in the fight against fake drugs and eminently filled in the gaps working with other local manufacturers.

After her education in the United Kingdom, Dr. Okoli 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).

In January 1977, Dr. Okoli established Emzor Pharmaceutical under the name “Emzor Chemists Limited” as a small pharmacy in Somolu, Lagos State.

Over time, Emzor Pharmaceutical has become one of Nigeria’s leading pharmaceutical companies with over 50 products. In 1981, Dr. 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.

I congratulate her on attaining 80 and wish her many more years of good health, success, happiness and service to Nigeria, a country she’s loved and made proud all her life.

*Part of her bio is from www.blackpast.com