Dr. Stella Chinyelu Okoli OON, Founded Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited and serves as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Okoli has over 27 years of experience as a practicing and manufacturing pharmacist. She has held several professional leadership positions which include Chairman of the Pharmaceutical A current member of the Economic Summit of Nigeria and member Health Matters Advisory Board of Nigeria, Stella currently serves as the Vice President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture having served as Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
She served as a Non-Executive Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc from April 22, 2010 to July 24, 2014. She attended Executive Management programs of the Harvard Business School, Boston, United States for owner-managers from 1997 to 1999. Dr. Okoli also attended the Chief Executive Management program of the Lagos Business School. She has attended numerous strategic management courses both in Nigeria and overseas. Dr. Okoli holds a B. Pharm (Hons.) degree from Bradford University in 1969 and M.Sc. in Biopharmaceutics from University of London, Chelsea College in 1971.
Prior to the establishment of Emzor Pharmaceutical, Stella had worked in several pharmaceutical firms including Middlesex Hospital, London, Boots the Chemists Limited and Pharma-Deko.
In January 1977, Stella started Emzor Pharmaceutical with the initial name “Emzor Chemists Limited” as a small pharmacy retail shop in Somolu, Lagos State. Emzor Pharmaceutical has since become one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria with over 50 products since its incorporation in 1984.
Philanthropy
After the death of her son Chike Okoli in 2005, Stella started the Chike Okoli Foundation in 2006 as a non-profit organisation founded with the aim of fighting poverty and diseases by raising awareness on cardiovascular diseases. She also runs the Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies.Accolades and recognitions
In recognition for her achievements and contributions to the health sector in Nigeria, Stella was bestowed with the Member of the Order of the Niger Award. In 2012, she was honoured at the 17th ThisDay Annual Awards. She is also a recipient of the ECOWAS International Gold Award.