Co-founder of Jolliters Chemists and accomplished pharmacist, Alhaji Adegoke Ogunyemi, takes TEMITOPE ADETUNJI on a captivating journey through his humble beginning in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to building a successful career in pharmacy and the values that shaped his life
Can you share your early experiences growing up?
I was born on November 15, 1934, to the family of Baba Salami and Mama Sinat Ogunyemi in Abeokuta, Ogun State. I possessed a remarkable flair for academics, especially Mathematics, and went on to make Grade 1/Division 1 in my Senior Cambridge, which was the highest possible grade one could attain in the senior school leaving exam.
In those days, before you could go to school, there was a simple test: you had to put your hand across your head, and if you could touch your opposite ear, you were deemed ready to go to school. At that time, primary education lasted eight years, and secondary education was six years. I was lucky because I spent only seven years in primary school. I didn’t complete Primary 6 before moving on to secondary school; I stopped at Primary 5 and advanced to secondary school.
We had excellent teachers in primary school. They were very strict disciplinarians. If they gave you a task and you didn’t complete it, you would be punished. After leaving primary school in 1947, I attended Abeokuta Grammar School in 1948, where I studied under the renowned Reverend Kuti. I completed my secondary education in 1953.
When you were leaving secondary school back then, you had to take an additional exam called the Civil Service Entrance Exam. This exam had two grades: Grade A and Grade B. If you passed with Grade B, you could only qualify for clerical work in the civil service. However, if you passed with Grade A, you could qualify for both technical and clerical work. Fortunately, I passed with a Grade A.
After secondary school, I began working at the Ministry of Education in Ibadan in January 1954. From that point, I started striving to further my education. I was awarded a Federal Government bursary to study Pharmacy, and I gained admission to the School of Pharmacy in Yaba. I began my studies there in 1956 and qualified as a pharmacist in 1959.
My first position as a pharmacist was at the Ijebu Ode General Hospital. I began my career there in 1959 and was in Ijebu Ode when the present Awujale was crowned in 1960. As fate would have it, I ended up marrying a daughter of Ijebu Ode a few years later.
How do you still talk fluently at 90, what works for you?
(Laughs) It’s God’s grace and let me add that it depends on how you led your life while you were a youth. If you don’t live a reckless life, you will age well, you will still look well. It is only when you live a reckless life before you become 60, you’ll be looking like a man of almost a hundred years. But if you live a very good life, you’re still healthy, you keep your shape, keep your voice; you keep everything.
What are the challenges you faced during your early life?
The challenge was that our parents were not rich. They were struggling to provide for us. Even if you want to buy a textbook, they will struggle to get the money for you to go and buy the textbook.
Looking back, how has the study of Pharmacy evolved since your time as a student?
When I look back, the evolution of Pharmacy education in Nigeria is remarkable. For instance, my set was among the last to graduate from the Yaba School of Pharmacy in 1959 before it was closed. After Yaba was shut down, Pharmacy education was transferred to the Nigerian College in Ibadan, which later became part of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife. At that time, the programme was only available as a diploma course.
Since then, Pharmacy education has grown significantly. What was once a diploma course has now progressed to include degree programmes, postgraduate studies, and even doctoral programmes. Back in my time, only the Nigerian College in Ibadan offered Pharmacy, while Engineering was taught at the Nigerian College in Zaria, and estate management and other professional courses were offered at the Nigerian College in Enugu.
Today, the situation is entirely different. There are now more than 20 universities in Nigeria offering Pharmacy programmes. The expansion is incredible, and the opportunities for students to study Pharmacy across the country have increased dramatically compared to my time. It’s inspiring to see how far Pharmacy education has come.
What motivated you to co-found Jolliters Chemists Limited?
The vision behind Jolliters Chemists Limited was simple; we believed that Nigerians could work together to create something impactful. We wanted to establish a company that would meet the healthcare needs of people while showing that collaboration could lead to success. That was why we set up Jolliters Chemists, with branches in Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, and Ife.
My motivation came from my years of experience in government service and the private sector. I worked in several government hospitals across Nigeria, including in Ijebu Ode, Epe, Badagry, Sagamu, Ilaro, and the Psychiatric Hospital in Aro, Abeokuta. I spent two years at Badagry General Hospital, from 1961 to 1963, before being posted to other hospitals. My final posting was at Ikeja General Hospital before I left government service in December 1964.
After leaving government work, I joined West African Drugs in 1965 as a manager. This role allowed me to travel widely across Nigeria; places like Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Ebute Metta, and Apapa, while gaining a deeper understanding of the pharmaceutical industry. I even witnessed the 1966 riots in the North during my time with West African Drugs.
These experiences shaped my belief that we could build a pharmaceutical company of our own. Together with like-minded individuals, we co-founded Jolliters Chemists in 1964. It was born out of a desire to take control of our expertise and contribute to the healthcare industry meaningfully.
How did your early work in government hospitals shape your understanding of Nigeria’s healthcare challenges?
During my time in government hospitals, the most pressing healthcare challenge was the severe shortage of manpower. There were very few doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. For instance, before I left the civil service, a pharmacist friend was responsible for three hospitals simultaneously, Ikeja General Hospital, Ilaro General Hospital, and Badagry General Hospital. He was the only pharmacist catering to all three facilities, which shows how stretched our resources were at that time.
Additionally, nearly 99% of the drugs we consumed back then were imported, unlike today. Another critical challenge was the shortage of pharmaceutical professionals, particularly in the northern part of the country. When I left Kaduna in December 1966, there was no qualified pharmacist from the North available to take over my role as branch manager. An expatriate chief manager had to step in instead. Moreover, the political crisis at the time discouraged southerners from working in the North, further exacerbating the manpower crisis.
What were some of the most significant achievements during your career in the healthcare sector?
One of my most memorable experiences was working as a manager at West African Drugs. In that role, you were fully in charge of your branch, and the level of autonomy and responsibility was unmatched. Managers had the backing of the general managers and other senior executives, and this support made the job both rewarding and empowering.
What made the role even more attractive was the financial incentive. At the end of the year, apart from your salary, you earned a substantial commission, a share of the branch’s profit. This incentive was a significant motivator for us and contributed to the high level of dedication we brought to our work.
What do you think are the most critical changes Nigeria’s healthcare system has undergone over the decades?
There have been significant improvements over the years, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Today, many drugs are produced locally, and we have a growing number of Nigerian-owned companies in the industry. However, these companies still require substantial government support to thrive.
Unfortunately, some manufacturing companies are closing down and relocating back to their home countries due to unfavourable conditions. This trend is worrisome and underscores the need for better policies and incentives to support local pharmaceutical production and sustain the progress we’ve made.
What year did you get married?
Well, it’s interesting. I’ve always been cautious about rushing into marriage. Even though I had opportunities, I never felt the need to rush into it. During my time as a manager with West African Drugs in the North, I was well-paid, had a private car, and was in a good position, which naturally made me eligible. But I had made up my mind that I wasn’t ready for marriage at that time.
In 1967, when I became the manager of West African Drugs in Ibadan, I started visiting some friends at the secretariat. After work, I would often give them rides back into town in my car. It was during one of these visits that I met my wife, Alhaja Adetoro Ogunyemi, who was a civil servant at the secretariat. That was how we met, and our love story began. We got married in 1968, and together we had five children: two girls and three boys. One of our sons is also a pharmacist and a former chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in Ogun State.
What were the things that attracted you to her?
She was a straightforward person; someone you could always rely on. She called a spade a spade and had a beautiful heart. Her sincerity and integrity were qualities that stood out to me the most. She was a very good Muslim. When she passed on, it was in Mecca. We had visited Mecca together twice, and on her third visit, she passed away. She was indeed a very good Muslim, very devout.
She was also someone very clever. She was very open and didn’t know how to hide anything. Whatever she did, she would tell you. We were mature before getting married. I got married at the age of 34 while she was 24. I had already worked as a pharmacist for nine and a half years and was managing companies within the pharmacy sector. I thank God for the children He gave us. I thank God for that.
Why did you decide to stick to one wife even as a Muslim?
The truth is that polygamy is one aspect of Islam that I don’t like. It is my personal choice to stick with one woman. Even the Quran advises that you should only marry more than one wife if you can treat them all fairly. Therefore, it is better to stick with one if you can’t love and treat them all equally.
What advice will you give to this current generation about preparing for marriage?
First and foremost, a man must be ready, emotionally, mentally, and especially financially, before considering marriage. If you’re still pursuing your education, whether at a polytechnic, university, or college, marriage shouldn’t even be on your agenda. Focus on completing your higher degree, establishing yourself professionally, and attaining a responsible position that allows you to financially support a wife and family.
When you’re ready to marry, your living situation should reflect that readiness. As a young man, being able to rent a small flat, preferably with at least two bedrooms and a parlour shows a level of preparation. A single room is not adequate for a man who is serious about starting a family.
Financial stability is key. A man should not rely on splitting financial responsibilities with his wife, such as thinking, ‘If I put down N1,000, my wife will contribute N500.’ It is the man’s responsibility to maintain the family.
I got married at the age of 34 after working for more than nine and a half years. From experience, I believe an ideal age for marriage is around 30 for a man and 25 for a woman. At these ages, both parties are more likely to be prepared for the responsibilities of marriage.
What are the morals you’ve instilled in your children; perhaps lessons you learnt in your youth that you passed on to them?
Number one, they must work hard. They must also learn to fend for themselves because, as a father, I don’t plan to leave any wealth for them if I provide them with a good education, which is the legacy I will leave behind. When you take your education to the university level, you will understand that it is a tool for life. If you work hard, it will sustain you even when I am no longer around.
Education is a lifelong legacy. It ensures they remain independent and can thrive as professionals. But if they don’t learn anything and choose to be idle, they will only have themselves to blame when they grow older.
I am grateful to God that my children listened to my advice. I have a pharmacist son who is a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria. My first son is a pharmacist and a distinguished fellow of the society. Others are engineers, accountants, and professionals in their respective fields. They all have good jobs.
What sustained your marriage over the years?
Understanding is key. When there are challenges, you have to discuss them. If you understand the other person’s position, you can resolve issues amicably. For example, I will explain my reasons; “I did this because of X,” or, “I cannot do this because I can’t afford it.” Transparency and communication are essential. She was 64. If she were alive today, she would have been 80 this October. She passed on 16 years ago.
What valuable life lesson would you say has guided you the most?
One of the most important lessons is from a verse in the Quran: ‘Allah has promised that if you do good, your reward will be good. Whatever you sow, you will reap’. Once you understand this, you will strive to do good to others. Avoid doing evil, because even if you think you’ve got away with it, there is always a consequence waiting. When you do good, God will reward you.
What are you grateful for the most?
I am grateful for God keeping me till this moment, I am thankful for his blessings.
