In a landmark collaboration poised to redefine customer experience in both the aviation and pharmaceutical sectors, United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has signed a strategic partnership with Medplus, one of Nigeria’s leading health and wellness retail chains. The alliance promises exciting benefits for Medplus customers nationwide, including access to exclusive flight discounts, wellness incentives, and seamless travel-health experiences.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was officially signed and unveiled at a high-profile event in Lagos, attended by senior executives from both companies, industry stakeholders.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mazi Osita Okonkwo, Executive Director/COO of United Nigeria Airlines, described the partnership as a business-to-business collaboration driven by shared values. He stated that the initiative is designed to create synergy between air travel and healthcare by offering both UNA and Medplus customers an experience rooted in wellness, convenience, and value.
“This is about service and shared value. We want to create a synergy between air travel and health. Our customers, and Medplus customers, deserve a full-circle experience that speaks to their wellbeing, comfort, and convenience. With Medplus’ 150 outlets nationwide, we are reaching deep into communities with a trusted brand. This isn’t just for Nigeria; our regional and international plans are in motion, and Medplus will be a valuable partner along that journey,” Okonkwo said.
Under the terms of the partnership, Medplus customers will enjoy access to specially discounted fares across United Nigeria Airlines’ growing route network when they book with special code that will be displayed at Medplus stores nationwide. The airline, in turn, will benefit from brand exposure through Medplus’ extensive national retail footprint.
Efe Bakare, Executive Director of Strategy and son of the Medplus founder Joke Silva, described the partnership as a momentous occasion for both brands. “This has been in the works for over a year. We took our time to ensure that both brands align in purpose and quality. Today, it’s official—and it’s a win-win. We’re not only offering flight discounts to our customers, but we’re also exposing United Nigeria Airlines’ passengers to healthy lifestyle choices through Medplus. I can envision even more, perhaps a UNA-Medplus logistics or cargo integration in the near future,” he said.
Bakare also noted that the partnership comes at a strategic time, as both companies look to scale regionally and internationally, making the collaboration a foundation for even broader engagement in the future.
According to the Head of Business Development and Strategy at United Nigeria Airlines, Mrs. Ifeoma Ekwerike, the alliance will also serve as a channel to gather and process customer feedback from Medplus clients, helping the airline continuously improve service delivery and passenger experience. Other speakers expressed optimism in the partnership, describing it as a forward-thinking move to deepen customer engagement and expand the airline’s reach.
With Medplus expansive network and United Nigeria Airlines’ growing reputation for service excellence, and On-Time departure, the partnership is expected to drive value for millions of customers while bridging the gap between healthcare, lifestyle, and smart travel across Nigeria and internationally.