In appreciation of their unwavering loyalty over the years, no fewer than 78 trade partners were given awards and special recognition at the recent World Wide Commercial Ventures Limited (WWCVL) Partners Reward Function.
The colourful occasion which took place at Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on 9 October, had several distributors, pharmacy owners, as well as the company’s top management staff, regional managers and sales representatives, in attendance.
The awards which came in three different categories – Platinum, Gold and Silver – attracted rounds of applause from the teeming audience.
While delivering a presentation, WWCVL’s head of special business unit, Mr Sanjay Upadhyaya, noted that a pharmaceutical distribution outfit like WWCVL couldn’t have made so much progress without the commitment and utmost loyalty of its partners.
He disclosed that the company was indeed pleased to be associated with every partner and distributor represented at the event.
“It has been said that a woman’s loyalty is tested when her man has nothing. On the other hand, a man’s loyalty is tested when he has everything. This is why we are appreciating your commitment today,” he stated.
Also speaking, WWCVL’s superintendent pharmacist, Pharm. Lucky Ubokor, declared that WWCVL, a subsidiary of Eco Health Limited since inception in Nigeria, was in partnership with over 16 multinational companies, maintaining 10 strategic distribution hubs scattered across the six geo-political zones as well as servicing 144 wholesalers and depots nationwide.
The superintendent pharmacist also reiterated that, aside having 450 staff across the country, the company’s new facility was recently commissioned by Dr Paul Orhii, the director-general of National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
While presenting the keynote address, another head of the company’s special business unit, Mr Santosh Kumar, announced that Nigeria’s pharma industry was worth N203 billion, which would have doubled up by 2018.
Using BMI (Business Monitor International) research report, Kumar assured that the challenge of counterfeiting in the pharma industry had drastically reduced.
“Counterfeiting of products which was about 40 per cent in 2005 reduced by 30 per cent in 2010 and in 2014, it has been estimated to be around 20 per cent. This is an indication of better regulations and distribution practice,” he disclosed.
Kumar also attributed the noticeable reduction to the sustained efforts and campaigns of NAFDAC.
Appraising the rapid development in the industry, Kumar declared that Emzor Pharmaceuticals had become the number one company in Nigeria, in terms of products output; followed closely by the likes of GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, May & Baker and Hovid respectively.
Among the eminent personalities who graced the event were Pharm. Ike Onyechi, managing director of Alpha Pharmacy; Pharm. Kunle Ara, managing director of Kunle Ara Pharmacy, Ibadan; Mr. Anant Narayan, managing director of WWCVL and Pharm. Lucky Ubokor, regulatory manager.
Others were Pharm. Yemi Olalere, WWCVL’s director; Mr. S. Kannan, head of finance and the duo of Messrs. Santosh Kumar and Sanjay Upadhyaya (heads, special business unit).
World Wide Commercial Ventures Limited (WWCVL) is a licensed vendor to all major healthcare providers in Nigeria. It has also been described as a one-stop solution for warehousing, pharma marketing, supply chain, leads, delivery and sales, regulatory and port clearance, transportation logistics and inventory management.
