Who We Are?

about us

Lee & Goka is a Pharmaceutical company incorporated in Nigeria for the sole purpose of manufacturing, importation and distribution of medicines, Vaccines and other pharmaceutical products of assured quality at competitive prices to Nigerians. Our aim is to increase access to much needed medicines.

The recent scourge of counterfeit medicines has made it increasingly difficult for States to ensure that the scarce resources available are judiciously used in procuring only the right quality of medicines and medical products. Other factors compounding this problem is the high cost of medicines, limited availability of funds and also the current chaotic and disorganized drug distribution systems in the States that allows the influx of counterfeit and substandard medicines into the states.

Counterfeit medicines have been on a steady increase recently, especially in developing countries with weak regulatory capacities. In 2010, worldwide sales of counterfeit medicines were estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be in excess of $75 billion (US) dollars annually, with some sources, including the World Customs Organization approximating the annual market value of counterfeit medicines to be as high as $200 billion (US) dollars.

Counterfeit drugs pose a serious public health hazard and waste consumer incomes worldwide but most especially in the underdeveloped and economically disadvantaged African countries where the already poor consumer is made to pay for products that have little or no medicinal value. In some cases counterfeit anti-biotic and anti-malaria drugs not only lead to treatment failures with dire consequences, including death, but also create resistant strains of the micro-organism that are no longer treatable with even the most potent medicines. This poses a grave danger to our low healthcare budgets and our already weak and highly compromised healthcare delivery systems.

Distressing as this might sound there is a ray of light at the end of this dark tunnel. Lee & Goka Pharmaceuticals Ltd is proposing to build partnerships to source good quality medicines and other medical products at affordable prices. We can also assist States to streamline drug distribution in such a way that drug sells by the state to its people at affordable prices will not only increase their access to medicines of assured quality but also sustainably become a stream of income as revenue for the state.

Mission & Vision

Our Vision is to be a global leader in pharmaceutical innovation, providing breakthrough therapies and improving patient outcomes

Our Mission is to source and deliver high-quality pharmaceutical products that enhance the well being of Nigerians.

Our Core Values

At Lee & Goka, our core values guide our actions and decisions, shaping our organizational culture and driving our success:

  • We foster a culture of innovation, encouraging our employees to think creatively, challenge the status quo, and explore new frontiers in healthcare.
  • We operate with the highest ethical standards, conducting our business transparently, honestly, and responsibly. We prioritize patient safety and regulatory compliance in all our endeavors.
  • We believe in the power of collaboration and partnership. by working together with healthcare professionals, academia and other industry stakeholders, we can accelerate progress and enhance access to quality medicines at competitive prices to Nigerians.
  • We empower our employees, providing them with the resources, support and opportunities they need to excel and make a positive impact. We value diversity and inclusion, recognizing that our employees' unique perspectives drive innovation and success.

Our Team

Dr. Paul Orhii

Among our team of experts is Dr Paul Orhii. During his more than 7 years meritorious tenure as the Director General of NAFDAC, He introduced multidimensional and well coordinated strategies in fighting the menace of counterfeited regulated products. Dr Orhii pioneered the use of cutting-edge technologies like the TruScan, a hand-held device for checking the quality of medicines on the spot and the Mobile Authentication Service using Short Messaging Service (SMS) to check the quality of medicines before purchase. This placed the power of authenticating medicines in the hands of millions of Nigerians using cell phones and turned them into potential NAFDAC informants in the fight against counterfeit and substandard medicines. This made NAFDAC one of the leaders in the global fight against counterfeit medicines with the reduction of fake anti-malaria drugs from more than 60% in 2008 to just about 3.6% by 2016. In recognition of these efforts Dr Orhii was appointed to serve as the Vice-Chairman of the International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT) with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland from 2009 to 2012. The Taskforce is made up of 193 member countries and such credible international organizations as the World Customs Organization, the INTERPOL, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), among others. From 2012 Dr Paul Orhii was unanimously voted the Pioneer Chairman of the Steering Committee of the newly created WHO Member State mechanism on Substandard/ Spurious/ Falsely-Labelled/Falsified/ Counterfeit (SSFFC) Medical Products. Serving in these visible positions Dr Paul Orhii was privileged to develop good working relationships with importers and manufacturers of pharmaceutical products globally.

Simon Agwale Ph.D (Consultant)

Simon Agwale, Ph.D is the CEO of Innovative Biotech, Nigeria and Innovative Biotech USA Inc. He is a member of the board of the African Vaccine Manufacturers’ Initiative (AVMI) and Chair of Vaccine Technical working group. He is also an advisor to West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), and part of a recently established ECOWAS vaccines taskforce. He is currently the Lead (Technology and IP), and member (Talent Development workstream) of Partnership for Africa Vaccines Manufacturing (PAVM) of Africa Centers for Disease Control (AfricaCDC). Dr. Agwale has a vision for the development and investigation of HIV vaccine constructs from prevalent Nigerian strains which are relevant to Nigerians. He is also currently developing novel vaccines against Covid-19, Ebola, HPV, and HIV using innovative viral-like particles (VLPs). Through INNOVATIVE, Dr. Agwale is striving to further develop and refine these dynamic, novel treatments, and in doing so, expand domestic vaccine manufacturing capabilities in Nigeria to serve the African community. Dr. Agwale was a Postdoc fellow at the Institute of Human Virology Baltimore, USA and Visiting Scientist at various institutions in Brazil, Germany, UK including the US Vaccine Research Center/NIH, and US Center for Disease Control and prevention in Atlanta. Dr. Agwale was West Africa's representative on HIV/AIDS for Developing countries Coordinating Committee (DCCC) at European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Programme, where he was also the chair of the African Scientists committee (DCCC). He is a recipient of several scholarships, fellowships and grants from reputable organizations around the world. He has also authored and co-authored numerous noteworthy publications

Dr. Ramkumar Rajagopalan (Consultant)

Dr. Ramkumar Ragopapalan is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of extensive expertise in Vaccines Business Development, Sales & Marketing, and Market Research. His career has spanned across diverse regions including India, Indian Sub-Continent, South East Asia (including China & South Korea), Middle East Countries (GCC Region), and virtually the entire African Continent (excluding North Africa). Throughout his career, Dr. Ragopapalan has made significant contributions to renowned companies in the field, including Sanofi Pasteur, Biological E Ltd, Bharat Biotech, Green Signal Biopharma, Strategic Analysis (Market Research), Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, and Biovalys (Bionet Asia Group, Thailand). His notable accomplishments include introducing 8 new vaccines into the Indian market during his tenure at Sanofi Pasteur, including DTaP, IPV, YELLOW FEVER, MENINGOCOCCAL, TETRAVALENT, PENTAVALENT WITH DTaP, TdaP (ADULT), and FLU vaccines. His work at Bharat Biotech played a pivotal role in initiating Clinical Trials for Rotavirus Vaccine & Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine, both of which achieved WHO Pre-Qualification and have been introduced into national immunization programs. Dr. Ragopapalan's influence extended to WHO Pre-Qualification programs, as seen in his involvement with the BCG Vaccine at Green Signal Biopharma. During his time with Strategic Analysis, he executed various successful Domestic and International Market Research Projects for prominent clients in sectors like Vaccines, Ostomy Care, Nutraceuticals, Oncology, and Pain Management. He demonstrated remarkable strategic acumen by identifying and assessing opportunities for alliances, joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions, and other collaborations with industry giants such as Mitsubishi Pharma, Japan. At Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Ragopapalan played a pivotal role in expanding the Vaccine Business by securing agreements for Varicella, Hepatitis A, and Meningococcal Vaccines with various manufacturers. His involvement in IPV Introduction and advocacy for polio eradication underscore his commitment to public health initiatives. His global engagement was further evidenced through partnerships with Nigeria's government for establishing Vaccine Manufacturing facilities, participation in IPV clinical trials, arranging significant events such as the WORLD POLIO DAY meeting in Abuja, and expanding product portfolios into ASEAN markets. Dr. Ramkumar Ragopapalan's impact resonates through successful product launches, market expansions, and stakeholder collaborations. His unwavering dedication and pioneering efforts have left an indelible mark on the field of Vaccines Business Development, solidifying his position as a respected leader and influencer in the industry.

Magendran Balaachary, Ph.d (Consultant)

Dr. Magendran Balaachary is a dedicated and meticulous professional with over 25 years of experience in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, encompassing Process Development, Drug Discovery Research, and Medicinal Chemistry. As a visionary leader, Dr. Balaachary leads a dynamic team of R&D scientists, guiding them to pioneer innovative pathways for synthesizing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), advanced intermediates, and drug impurities. His commitment lies in ensuring the timely and cost-effective commercialization of these compounds. He possesses a keen ability to identify and analyze scientific trends, harnessing cutting-edge methodologies such as flow chemistry and vapor phase reactions. Dr. Balaachary excels in orchestrating the seamless process scale-up and technology transfer from laboratory settings to large-scale production environments. Dr. Balaachary's proficiency extends to plant design, quality systems, regulatory documentation, Drug Master Files (DMF), dossier compilation, and cGMP compliance, aligning seamlessly with global standards including ICH Q7 and EU GMP. With an unwavering dedication to technological advancement, Dr. Balaachary oversees pivotal R&D projects, tailored to meet organizational technology development and process control requirements. He is instrumental in fortifying market share and profitability through strategic cost reductions in existing product lines and processes. His comprehensive knowledge spans modern synthetic techniques, state-of-the-art analytical methodologies, regulatory guidelines, and industry compliance mandates. Dr. Balaachary is adept at engaging in technical discussions with clients, offering high-value insights to enhance quality and drive cost efficiencies. Furthermore, Dr. Balaachary's technical acumen serves as a cornerstone for business development endeavors, as he contributes invaluable insights to the proposal development process, particularly in significant high-value engagements within the Contract Research Organization (CRO) sector. Proficient in interpreting an array of spectroscopic and analytical techniques, such as 1H and 13C NMR, IR, UV/Vis, FTIR, GC, HPLC, and LC-MS, alongside PXRD, TGA, DSC, and RC methods, Dr. Balaachary ensures the precision and reliability of analytical results. His leadership prowess is demonstrated through his exceptional efficiency in meeting production targets, maintaining rigorous quality standards, adhering to production schedules, and pioneering process enhancements. A resolute decision-maker, Dr. Magendran Balaachary adeptly manages diverse projects across different geographical domains, optimizing resource allocation and utilization to achieve strategic goals.

Noah Idoko Ameh

Noah Idoko Ameh graduated from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as a Pharmacist. He obtained his MBA in Finance and Investment at the same institute. Since graduation, Pharmacist Ameh has worked at various institutions including the Federal Medical Center, Bida in Niger State of Nigeria as a pharmacist where his duties included assistance in issuance and administering drug to patients at the hospital, he also worked with Comprehensive Health Centre, Jama, Kaduna State as well as Tonia Pharmacy Store, mabushi in the city of Abuja.

Shima, Kende Kelvin

Pharmacist Shima Kende Kelvin obtained his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State. Shima’s wealth of experience spans across the nation as he has worked as a pharmacist at The Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital, Zaria, General Hospital Ibiaku, Akwa-Ibom State and NKST Hospital, Mkar in Benue State just to name a few. His passion for the profession puts him among the tier of excellent professionals making a great difference in the country.