FAPMA

Leadership & Governance

FAPMA was established in 2013 in Addis Adaba, Ethiopia. FAPMA is recognised by the African Union Commission (AUC) and all the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on the continent.

FAPMA is registered in South Africa as a non-profit organisation. It is governed by its constitution which can be downloaded here, and holds annual general meetings (AGMs) which are represented by a Board of Directors currently elected for a two-year term at the AGM. Annual subscriptions paid by the members (regional industry associations) fund the FAPMA secretariat activities.

The FAPMA Board of Directors decides on the strategic direction of the non-profit organisation, and facilitates key initiatives to support its members.

The Board of Directors is vested with the responsibility for the governance of the Federation and shall exercise the power and function assigned to it by its Constitution, by the regulations made under FAPMA’s Constitution or by the resolutions adopted at the Annual General Meeting.

The Board of Directors may take on the power and authority that it believes it needs to achieve the objectives of the Federation. Its activities must abide by the law of the country where it is established and by its Constitution.

FAPMA’S Secretariat helps to fulfil FAPMA’s day to day operations and assist with administration and communication with members.

Secretariat and

FAPMA Board of Directors

FAPMA Chairperson

Emmanuel Mujuru is FAPMA’s Chairperson and the Group Chief Executive Officer and founder of Plus Five Pharmaceuticals (Private) Limited which is a vertically integrated pharmaceutical company with operations in pharmaceutical manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing and real estate in Zimbabwe including exports to regional markets.

Emmanuel is a pharmacist, entrepreneur and industrialist with a passion for the development of the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry not only in Zimbabwe but across Africa. He has been active in the pharmaceutical industry for the past 30 years, with extensive experience in pharmaceutical business development, management, strategy, production, research and development, quality assurance, marketing and distribution among others.

Emmanuel has extensive leadership experience on industry boards including: immediate past-Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (PMA) in Zimbabwe; National Executive Committee Member (Exco) and National Council Member of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI); President of the Mashonaland Chamber of Industries (CZI); Board Member of the Pharmacists Council of Zimbabwe; Board Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe (PSZ); and Treasurer and former Chairperson of the Southern African Generic Medicines Association (SAGMA).

FAPMA Vice-Chairperson

Nazeem Mohamed has over 45 years of experience in the global pharmaceutical sector and currently is the Pharmaceutical Specialist for the African Development Bank (AfDB). Previously he served as the Head of the Pharmaceutical Sector for the Aga Khan Development Network and was the CEO at Kampala Pharmaceutical Industries in Uganda. Before returning to Uganda in 2003, Nazeem was VP of Strategic Product Development at Novo Nordisk, based originally in Denmark and then in Belgium. He also worked for leading multinational companies such as Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline, mostly in international marketing management and strategic product development, living and working in the UK, Belgium, Denmark and the USA. Nazeem is the past Chairman of the Federation of East African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (FEAPM) and current Vice Chair of FAPMA. He also served as the Chairman of Aga Khan Foundation Regional Committee for East Africa.

FAPMA Director

Skhumbuzo Ngozwana is the CEO of Kiara Health, a South African based and Africa-focused medical device company. He is Chairman of the board of Biovac, a vaccine manufacturer based out of South Africa, and board member of the Global Action for Fungal Infections (GAFFI). He is also a member of the AMMTEC Secretariat – the African Medicines Manufacturing Trade & Exhibition Conference.

An expert in the African Pharmaceutical industry, he has consulted to the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Pharmacopeia Convention (USP) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). He also co-authored the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa.

FAPMA Director

Dr Wilberforce O Wanyanga is a leading Pharmacist in Kenya with broad experience spanning over 40 years in policy and regulatory development across East Africa, having worked in government hospitals, government medicines stores, senior management at Ministry of Health and as a regulator.

Wilberforce has a keen interest in supporting local pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa, having worked since 2010 as the UNIDO National Pharmaceutical coordinator. Together with other international experts, Dr Wilberforce published three key reports that has propelled the sector towards self-reliance and sustainability in terms of access to local quality medicines – (i) Kenya Pharmaceutical Profile, 2010; (ii) Kenya Pharmaceutical Sector Development Strategy, 2012; and (iii) Kenya GMP Roadmap, 2014.

He is currently involved in the GMP and is currently involved in the GMP capacity building initiative within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.

FAPMA Director

Perviz (Palu) Dhanani is the Managing Director of Universal Corporation Ltd (UCL), a pharmaceutical company based in Kenya, which he founded in 1996, originally producing five generic products. As a World Health Organisation (WHO) compliant company, UCL now employs approximately 500 people and produces 144 generic medicines, of which several of the products have been approved for WHO Prequalification. UCL manufactures off-patent generic anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs for HIV, antimalarial drugs, antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals.

UCL’s largest export is essential drugs and helped alleviate several emergencies mainly on the African Continent, with a vision of local production, accessibility and availability of quality affordable medicines in Africa for Africa.

Palu has over 40 years’ experience in the industry, ranging from textile manufacturing, FMCG trading, pharmaceutical manufacturing and health care delivery. In addition to UCL, Palu is a shareholder and director of other Group companies namely, Universal Corporation Limited, Nairobi Enterprises Limited and Chemoquip Limited.

FAPMA Board Member

Dr S. Okechukwu (Okey) Akpa has a long, active and interesting career in the pharmaceutical industry spanning over decades, with a focus on pharma production, pharma markets, industry development policies and the role of the pharma industry in public health in developing countries. Dr. Akpa is presently the MD/CEO of SKG Pharma Ltd, a Nigerian based pharmaceutical manufacturing company (previously Wellcome Nigeria Ltd, the Nigerian operation of Wellcome United Kingdom).

In 2024, he was elected as the President of the Federation of Nigeria Pharmaceutical Industry Associations (FeNPIA), the umbrella industry body that brings together players in the entire upstream pharma value chain in Nigeria, from pharma manufacturers to importers. Okey is also Chairman of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG MAN), and presently serves as the President of West African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (WAPMA).

Okey is a trained Pharmacist from the University of Nigeria, and obtained an MBA from IESE Barcelona/Lagos Business School as well as a PhD from ISM Paris.

FAPMA Treasurer

Gertrude Mothibe is a Pharmacist with a Masters Degree in Pharmaceutical Services and Medicines Control, and a Post Masters Diploma in Industrial Pharmacy, Regulation and Drug Discovery.

She worked as CEO of the Lesotho Pharmaceutical Corporation for four years, a government owned manufacturing company serving several countries in Southern Africa. Prior, she was the General Manager of the National Drug Service Organisation for five years.

Gertrude has lectured in Pharmaceutical programs at the National University of Lesotho for 10 years, and at the Boitekanelo Health College for three years. She is now running her own Pharmacy Consultancy company Pharm Legacy in Botswana, consulting in pharmaceutical industry and regulation. Since 2015, Gertrude has been the Chairperson of SAGMA and the Treasurer of FAPMA. Gertrude was also the Chairperson of the Coalition of Health Professionals (Pharmacists, Doctors, Nurses), an advocacy association that fought for health professionals to be paid and appropriate protected during the Covid-19 pandemic.

FAPMA Secretariat

Matsepo Tema is the current Project coordinator for both Southern African Generic Medicines Association (SAGMA) & Federation of African. Pharmaceutical Manufactures Associations (FAPMA) where she is working with member associations of generic Pharmaceutical manufacturers in the SADC region and Africa continent.

‘Matsepo is a dedicated, self-driven and results oriented professional pharmacist with over a decade of experience in public, private, and non-profit settings. Armed with Master’s Degree in Pharmacy from North West University, several certifications in Professional Healthcare management from various institutions of higher learning and currently pursuing course in Global Health Management and policy. She has solid knowledge of healthcare management, Pharmaceutical manufacturing, regulations, and Pharmaceutical supply and value chains.

She has worked as a Clinical Pharmacist for government hospitals and also as Pharmacy Manager for the Queen Mamohato Memorial Referral Hospital (PPP model) and remained engaged in diverse health care consultancies that promote and strengthen healthcare interventions, including; health system researches, evaluations, surveys and evaluation review of Pharmacy training institutions in Lesotho through the Council on Higher Education.

Secretariat for WAPMA

Dr Lucia Adae is a Consultant in Health Economic Policy and a Senior Policy analyst. Lucia has worked at various multinational companies including AstraZeneca, Hoffman La Roche and Johnson and Johnson in a variety of roles including Policy & Government Affairs Manager, Key Accounts Manager, Product manager, and Medical Sales Representative. Lucia has also instrumental in removing the VAT from locally manufactured menstrual pads by engaging various NGOs in strategic advocacy and creating a documentary for one of Ghana’s national TV channel (TV3).

Currently, Lucia serves as a member of the Secretariat for West Africa Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association (WAPMA) and a member of FAPMA. She is also the Board member and secretary of the PSGH Trust Fund and Chairperson of the Lady Pharmacists Association of Ghana (LAPAG). Over the years, Lucia has served on several committees in the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) and Lady Pharmacists Association of Ghana (LAPAG).

She has a master’s degree in Economic Policy Management from University of Legon and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy (Top Up) Program in Legon. She is a student at China Europe International Business School (CEIBS).