In line with its mission “to create smart health benefits for people to succeed and thrive”, Vanguard Pharmacy Limited, headquartered in Monatan-Iwo Road, Ibadan, has opened another centre along MKO Abiola Way in Abeokuta, making this its second in the Ogun State capital and sixth nationwide.
Founded in 2006 by an enterprising couple, Pharm. Taofik Odukoya and Mrs Kawthar Odukoya, as chief executive officer and executive director respectively, Vanguard Pharmacy started operations in a 30-square-meter space, at 17A, Abegbe Shopping Complex, Iyana-Church, Ibadan.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Odukoya, an alumnus of the Stanford University Seed Programme, said the company is following the transformation and scaling plan as set by its board and management in increasing the footprint of the indigenous brand.
He added that the Vanguard Pharmacy brand is set to dominate the retail space within the next five years as the team is set to turn the brand to a multinational retail company within the decade.
While noting that the gap in the retail space is still very massive in Nigeria, Odukoya stressed that indigenous players must continue to take initiatives. This, according to him, will help in creating massive impacts, such as creating employment opportunities for citizens and increasing tax generation by the government, among many others.
Mrs Odukoya also buttressed the CEO’s remarks, saying that the increase in the number of physical outlets, along with the online store, will enhance the Vanguard brand’s visibility and enable the company to serve its customers even better.
She also expressed gratitude to God Almighty, as well as the entire management and staff, key partners, customers, and family and friends who have made the company’s continued success possible.
In his contribution, Mr Blessing Ojo-Thomas, head of Human Resources, noted that Vanguard Pharmacy remains highly positioned for delivering its objectives to customers, providing topnotch shopping experience with its array of dedicated and committed employees, adding that the entire team is ever ready to make customers happy and satisfied.
“One of our ambitious goals is to be a multinational retail chain store and to achieve this goal, we need to create more brand visibility for the business across Africa, hence the reason for opening the new branch” said Head of Accounts, Miss Adeniji Olajumoke.
The Head of Pharmacy Business, Pharm. Adedoyin Osho also said that Vanguard Pharmacy, MKO Branch, Abeokuta, was a dream come true. She added that it was gladdening to achieve the great feat at a time when Nigeria and the world at large are gradually recovering from the effects of COVID-19.
“The determination to make the world a better place is our driving force. We will leave no stone unturned to ‘create smart health benefits for people to succeed and thrive’. People of Abeokuta and its environs will be happy beneficiaries of a pleasant customer experience and the ease that a one-stop shop model offers,” she said.
The Head of Veterinary Business, Dr Efie Ademokun, pointed out that despite the challenges arising from the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is determined to expand its one-stop shop offerings of pharmacy, veterinary, supermarket and bakery products. This, she said, is in pursuit of its transformation and scaling journey of becoming an African multinational retail store, creating employment and eradicating poverty in the continent, as well as becoming one of the best places to work in the continent.
