THE AFRICAN PHARMACEUTICAL DISTRIBUTION ASSOCIATION.

APDA unites national pharmaceutical distribution associations across Africa to safeguard medicine supply, combat falsified drugs, and professionalise the distribution sector — from factory to pharmacy.

View programme Register for Lagos 2026

MISSION & VISION

A CONTINENT WHERE EVERY PATIENT HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY- ASSURED MEDICINES.

The African Pharmaceutical Distribution Association (APDA) was officially founded in October 2019 as a continental federation of national pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor associations. It is the only pharmaceutical distribution association that spans the African continent, representing over 30 member associations from every region of Africa — from the Maghreb to the Cape.

Our mission is simple and urgent: to ensure that every medicine reaching a patient in Africa has travelled through a professional, secure and traceable distribution channel. We do this by uniting distributors behind common standards, by partnering with regulators to enforce quality, and by advocating for policies that strengthen supply chains rather than fragment them.

The Thematic General Assembly is our flagship annual convening. Each assembly rotates between African capitals and focuses on a strategic priority aligned with continental health goals. Lagos 2026 places secure supply chains and the fight against falsified medicines at the centre of the agenda.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

WHAT APDA WORKS ON, EVERY DAY.

Combat falsified medicines

Drive adoption of track-and-trace systems, serialisation standards and regulatory enforcement tools that protect patients from counterfeit drugs.

Harmonise regulation

Work with national medicines regulatory authorities to align standards, streamline cross-border documentation and reduce trade friction.

Build capacity

Deliver training, certification and peer-learning programmes that professionalise distributors and raise operational standards continent-wide.

Foster partnership

Bridge distributors, manufacturers, regulators, insurers and technology providers to build resilient, end-to-end supply chains.

OUR HISTORY

FROM LUSAKA 2018 TO A PAN-AFRICAN NETWORK.

2018

LAUNCH OF THE APDA PROJECT

In November 2018, an initiative was launched to assess the need and opportunity to establish a new pan-African pharmaceutical distribution association. The first exploratory meeting was held in Lusaka, Zambia.

April 2019

ACCRA — STATUTES APPROVED

During the second meeting in Accra, Ghana, the draft statutes were approved, the budget validated, and the first APDA newsletter was launched.

October 2019

CONSTITUTIVE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

On 10 October 2019, the African Pharmaceutical Distribution Association (APDA) was officially established, bringing together National Distribution Associations and Distribution Companies across Africa.

October 2024

DOUALA THEMATIC ASSEMBLY

APDA Thematic General Assembly held in Douala, Cameroon — reinforcing regional collaboration and Good Distribution Practices across the continent.

Today

A PAN-AFRICAN NETWORK

APDA convenes statutory and thematic general assemblies, hosts webinars and knowledge-sharing activities, partners with regional and international bodies, and promotes Good Distribution Practices (GDP) to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains across Africa.

HOST ASSOCIATION

PWDAN.

Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distributors Association of Nigeria

PWDAN is a licensed wholesale and distribution firm operating across all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.

PWDAN's members are the backbone of Nigeria's medicine supply chain. They handle the bulk of essential medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies that flow from manufacturers — both local and international — to hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, and community health centres.

The association works closely with NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control), the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), and the Federal Ministry of Health to enforce quality standards, professionalise distribution practice, and protect Nigerian patients from the threat of counterfeit and substandard medicines.

GOVERNANCE

PWDAN LEADERSHIP.

OGHENEOCHUKO OMARUAYE

PRESIDENT

PWDAN, Nigeria

Company: CEO, New Heights Pharmaceuticals Ltd

UKAGHA IGWE

VICE CHAIRMAN OF PWDAN

PWDAN, Nigeria

Company: Famatex pharmaceuticals Ltd

OLAIDE SOETAN

SECRETARY

PWDAN, Nigeria

Company: NHC pharmaceuticals Ltd

MEMBERSHIP

National associations from across Africa.

Nigeria (PWDAN)

Ghana

Kenya

Egypt

South Africa

Senegal

Côte d'Ivoire

Ethiopia

Morocco

Tanzania

Uganda

Rwanda

Cameroon

Zambia

Zimbabwe

DR Congo

Algeria

Tunisia

Angola

Benin

GOVERNANCE

APDA LEADERSHIP.

MR. LAHCEN SENHAJI

PRESIDENT, APDA

President, GPDP (Morocco)

MR ARNOLD WILLY N'GUESSAN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

APDA

MR. BLAISE NODEM SON WA

TREASURER, APDA

CEO of InQure Health Morocco

MS. ABADA GHIZLANE

BOARD ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT

APDA

MR. KEN JEAN-MARIE ACCAJOU

CONTINENTAL VICE PRESIDENT

Deputy CEO, CFAO Healthcare (Gabon)

MR. GERARD MANGOUA

CONTINENTAL VICE PRESIDENT

General Director, UbiPharm S.A.(Ivory Coast)

MR. JULES CHARLES KEBE

Vice President: Membership & Mutual Support Committee

CEO of DUOPHARM - (Senegal) President, AGPS" Association (Senegal)

MR. SIBIRI KONKOBO

Vice President: Development & Communication Committee

Director UbiPharm Afrique (Burkina Faso)

MS. YOLANDE M. MAVOU DJOMO

VICE PRESIDENT, CENTRAL AFRICA

CEO SIAP PHARMA (Cameroon)

MR. IBRAHIMA DIAWARA

VICE PRESIDENT, WEST AFRICA

President "CSRP" Association (Ivory Coast)

MR. ABEL DUSHIMIMANA

VICE PRESIDENT, EAST AFRICA

President "AIGPHAR" Association (Rwanda)

MR. RAZI MILIANI

VICE PRESIDENT, NORTH AFRICA

CEO COGEPHA Healthcare (Tunisia)

MR. ANDRIANANTENAINA MICHEL RAKOTONDRAINIBE

PRESIDENT, AGRIMM Association

(Madagascar)

MR. SYLVAIN MING

REPRESENTATIVE, AGRIMM Association

(Madagascar)

MR. OGHENEOCHUKO OMARUAYE

PRESIDENT, PWDAN

(Nigeria)

MR. OKAFOR ERNEST OGBONNA

FORMER PRESIDENT, PWDAN

(Nigeria)

MR. HAZEM ELGHOUL

PRESIDENT, CSPGRT

(Tunisia)

MS. WAFA BEN MEDDEB

FORMER PRESIDENT, CSPGRT

(Tunisia)

MR PROSPER HIAG

PRESIDENT, AGPC

(Cameroon)

MR. SENHAJI BADR

DELEGATED ADMINISTRATOR – APDA VICE PRESIDENT, SPRL

(Morocco)

MR. EDDY GILISSEN

APDA ADVISOR SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SUPPLIER ALLIANCES "IQVIA"

(Belgium)

MR. CHRISTOPHER GOTEZ

APDA ADVISOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CEO IFPW FOUNDATION

(U.S.A)

MR. GEORGE BRAY

APDA ADVISOR VP OF MEMBER ENGAGEMENT IFPW FOUNDATION

(U.S.A)

APDA MEMBERS

A COALITION OF ASSOCIATIONS AND COMPANIES ACROSS AFRICA.

APDA unites national distribution associations and leading pharmaceutical distribution companies, alongside international advisors, to strengthen Good Distribution Practices across the continent.