Gowon, operators, NAFDAC, Onyiuke laud Fidson listing on NSE *First to introduce ARV

Fidson Healthcare Plc, a newly quoted company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) received overwhelming support from chieftains of industries, capital market operators and regulators during the listing of its shares.

Former Head of State of Nigeria ,General Yakubu Gowon and his wife, Director General of National Drug Law, Enforcement Agency (NAFDAC, Professor Dora Akunyili , Mr. Felix Ohiwerei, Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe were among the dignitaries that endorsed the listing of the shares of Fidson Healthcare Plc.

Yakubu Gowan said “ I am very much excited with the growth of Fidson. For Felix Ohiwerei who is chairman of chairmen of quoted companies on the board of the Fidson means that the company had performed extremely well. I will commit my little money on the company when it comes out with its Initial Public Offeing (IPO).I and my family will show our solidarity and support for the company having gone so far within its short period of existence.

In the same, NAFDAC boss, Professor Akunyili commended the company for its stride. According to her “ NADFAC has followed this company right from scratch to this period it has gone public. This is really a Nigerian company with all of its board and management staff indigenes of the country. We have scrutinized this company and they have followed all the tenets of the profession.

I am endorsing this company today in the capital market community because it is a company to emulate by others.

Director-General , Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) was full of praises for the promoters of this company who had the vision of the building a world class company of this nature and taking it to the stock market for the entire public to invest in . It is highly commendable”.

Mr. Felix Ohiwerei also commended the company. “ Before I joined the company I made thorough research about the company and its books and they might my kind of company that has respect for corporate governance. Since I retired as executive management of companies I had always told my self that I will continue to add value using my wealth of experience to companies that are ready to subject themselves to public scrutiny and accountability.

Fidson is one of those companies” he noted.
The capital market community were full of praises to see a company originated , grown and nurtured by Nigerians to be listed on the Exchange.

Over the years, Fidson Healthcare Limited tenders well over one hundred and thirty drug products in different therapeutic groups and has perfected brands portfolio management.

Innovating for improvement has become the culture. Quality assurances on all spheres, employment and continuous training of manpower and process improvement have all received massive attention.
Recently the company has shifted its attention towards building a corporate Head Office
commensurate with its standing in the industry; actually a dream home before an office with all the appurtenance of an ultramodern world-class office structure. This structure will enhance the company’s administrative fluidity, excellent service delivery and atmosphere of friendliness, warmth and professionalism.

This six-story building, complete with a pent house is located on the very accessible Ikorodu road, Lagos, Nigeria complete with facilities that will ensure conducive work environment and greater performance.

According to the Managing Director/CEO, Fidson Healthcare, Mr. Fidelis Ayebae
“ We at Fidson Healthcare are committed at all times to offering our customers the highest quality healthcare products and services. In achieving this we always engage highly dedicated people in processes that conform to Global best practices in the most cordial environment.

Our Vision is to become and remain the most preferred and leading healthcare providers in our sub-regions. Our mission is to provide high quality healthcare products to the consuming public in an efficient and ethical manner at affordable prices through highly motivated professionals with a passion for excellence and credibility, using modern technology. Our Motto is that we value life.

Our commitment is to become a Nigerian multinational committed to providing a wide spectrum of drug products to our customers. We are also committed to remaining the single private initiative employing the highest number of pharmacists in the country”.

Fidson Healthcare Plc has evolved into Nigeria’s foremost indigenous healthcare provider.
The company commenced operations in 1995 with a vision to change the course of healthcare delivery in our sector.

Over the years we have pursued this goal with zeal and have established our grounds in very important areas including pharmaceutical, consumer goods, human capital development, R & D, products distribution and responsive corporate initiatives.

At inception, the company started as Fidson Drugs with focus on local distribution. Within the first year, the company expanded her business scope into importation and distribution of our brands of quality products such as Ciprotab, Meprasil, Astymin and Astyfer.

Within six years, the company commenced operations in her ultramodern manufacturing facility in Sango, Ota, and Ogun state. Since that feat was achieved five years ago, the company has moved into greater accomplishments by investing in another bigger and sophisticated manufacturing plant, also in Sango, Ota, Ogun state.

Presently, the first factory has been dedicated as a contract manufacturing facility ECOMED Pharm Limited; to enable aspiring entrepreneurs who could not afford the high cost of setting up manufacturing plants to achieve their goals maximally.

Just like the proverbial mustard seed, Fidson Drugs has transformed to Fidson Healthcare
And has grown into a “Mighty Oak” giving birth to FIL Pharmaceutical, Biofid, Fidson Products, Nature Remedies, Extra Print and Wide-Net Impex as subsidiaries.
Factory Operations

Ayabae stated that the state of the art manufacturing facility located on a landmass of about two (2) acres is aesthetically laid out in accordance with current WHO. GMP and safety requirements.

“The plant is equipped to manufacture five (5) distinct lines of products. Liquids Powder Cream Tablets Capsules.Other operations at the facility include filling, blistering, labeling, packaging, and cartonation. We are the first indigenous company to produce Anti Retroviral drug (ARV)
In pursuit of our philosophy to provide world-class drugs, our factory is manned by a fine blend of professionals whose primary duty is to uphold the integrity of our products and safety of our customers. We On research and development, Fidson boss said

This is the nerve center of our products development and lines extension. We are constantly refining and distilling our scientific thoughts to formulate novel drugs such as Virex, our range of anti-retroviral (ARV), Gascol Antacid, Tribotan range of dermatology products, Cephalosporine and others. Our R & D has provided opportunities for medical scientists and researchers to engage in product reformulation for usage extension, increased efficacy, clinical studies and academic training.

It is to the credit of this department that we have well over one hundred and twenty (120) high quality products that satisfy the health needs of o\ discerning publics.This department is manned by a dynamic group of scientists of impeccable credentials.

Marketing Operation
Fidson Healthcare is known in the industry for her range of products,. Apart from being the first indigenous manufacturers of liquid and solid dosage forms of anti-retrovirals in Nigeria, the company plays in key therapeutic areas.

For greater focus and pro-active performance, our marketing operations are structured along the following lines:Anti-arthritis/Pain relief, Anti-infective, Endocrinology, Gastro-intestinal Analgesics, Neutraceuticals Consumers Export management Haematinics, Anti-malaria, Biologicals Human Resources

At Fidson Healthcare, human capital is our most important asset. Since our well being rests on the staff, a high premium is placed on ensuring a motivated personnel from diverse educational backgrounds, the pool of talents at our disposal is being efficiently harassed and this explains this explains the rapid pace of our ascent.

Being aware that our corporate success depends on the excellence of our workforce, our HR is consistently being re-engineered to produce and retain premium quality staff at all times.
Teamwork is recognized as a contributory singular factor for every achievement we have made so far hence, our corporate policy of making our work environment “home before a workplace”.
Ours is a company that combines a youthful and resourceful management team, result-oriented, highly motivated and passionate workforce.

Corporate Services
Fidson Healthcare believes that her customers and suppliers are partners in progress. Having bought into this corporate vision, Corporate services department strives to be responsive to our partners demands and those of the community in which we operate; intact. Fidelity to our corporate social responsibility (CSR) is inviolable.

This is why the company engages in sponsorship of professional bodies and individuals, promotion of youth football sponsorship of international sporting events and leadership training and schools. ..:,, ,
Being well known in the industry for efficacious drugs production and distribution, we have also backed these lines up with the production of high quality informative marketing and communications materials for relevant professional bodies and the consuming publics.

We want to be distinguished in our sub sector for providing the consumers with credible solutions to their problems at affordable prices at their doorstep.

The company management team is made up of keen students of entrepreneurship who are people- oriented, very responsive and believe in continuing education.

The team is multi-disciplinary; comprising managers skilled in R & D, products development, marketing, sales, finance, administration, social research and marketing communications.
The primary duty of this team is empathetic and efficient customer service, high premium brands production, consistent research and cost efficiency.—Vanguard