Adeola Ayoola, co-founder and CEO of Famasi Africa, is addressing one of Nigeria’s most pressing health challenges: medication adherence. In a country where nearly 30% of all deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases, many patients rely on recurring medication to stay healthy. Yet, adherence remains low, often due to forgetfulness, apathy, poor access, and the absence of a structured refill system. Healthcare providers are rarely equipped to support patients beyond the clinic, and without digital tools to track treatment, millions are left to manage chronic conditions alone.
This breakdown not only weakens health outcomes but also contributes to a global toll of up to 41 million preventable deaths annually, according to the WHO. Through Famasi Africa, Ayoola is not just reimagining access to care—she’s rebuilding the infrastructure needed to support patients long after diagnosis.
The epiphany
The founder’s journey into the heart of Nigeria’s healthcare system began during her time at the National Hospital in Abuja. There, she met a nine-year-old boy living with HIV who, despite struggling to breathe, had to make exhausting trips to the hospital to access his antiretroviral medication. That moment brought a harsh reality into focus: for many Nigerians, especially the vulnerable, consistent and accessible medication is still out of reach.
With over eight years of experience spanning retail, hospital, and pharmaceutical distribution, Adeola Ayoola recognised a critical gap in how medications are accessed and managed. Her subsequent role at mPharma deepened this understanding, exposing her to widespread inefficiencies in the pharmaceutical supply chain and further fueling her resolve to make a difference.
The birth of Famasi Africa
In 2021, Ayoola teamed up with longtime friend and co-founder Umar Faruq Akinwunmi to launch Famasi Africa. What began as a simple online pharmacy quickly evolved when they realised the bigger problem: Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure wasn’t built to support consistent, tech-enabled medication access at scale.
Rather than stop at dispensing drugs, Famasi set out to build the digital backbone that connects individuals and businesses to pharmacies across the country. The startup’s mission became clear—to create a pharmacy that delivers medication and actively cares for its users.
From making manual deliveries in Lagos to forming strategic partnerships with pharmacies nationwide, Famasi has scaled quickly and intelligently. Identifying a lack of efficient software in the sector, they developed Dispensary v1, an Android-based inventory and point-of-sale system designed to simplify pharmacy operations and boost transparency.
By the end of 2023, Famasi had onboarded 306 pharmacies across Nigeria—part of its larger goal to expand digital access to essential medicines. This infrastructure has improved medication delivery and helped partner pharmacies achieve revenue growth of 10% to 30%.
In 2023, the startup secured a $100,000 pre-seed round led by Microtraction, providing critical funding to advance its technology and scale operations.
Famasi’s participation in the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI-First programme has also accelerated innovation. Through the programme, they developed Remi, an AI-powered pharmacy assistant that supports pharmacists in providing more personalised and efficient care. With a clear vision and growing momentum, Famasi Africa is laying the foundation for a healthcare future in which medication access is no longer a barrier but a given.
