Adeola Alli can be described as a pharmacist and visionary healthcare advocate who has made remarkable strides in bridging the healthcare gap in Nigeria.
With a fervent commitment to improving access to medication, she has dedicated her career to innovative solutions to access medications for individuals in Nigeria to avoid unavoidable loss of lives.
She identified a gap in Nigeria’s healthcare system when she encountered challenges in sourcing specialized medications for her child.
Her mission, therefore, is to provide access to medicine and healthcare solutions for the long-term survival of Africans and hopes her business success will be an inspiration to young women on the continent, skeptical of entering the technology industry.
Adeola founded OneHealth after bringing over 15 years of business expertise in the pharmaceutical and business sectors. She has garnered recognition and support from various influential organizations.
Early life and Academic background
She has a Master of Pharmacy from the University of Manchester and an MBA from the Instituto de Empresa (IE) Business School and studied Business/ Managerial Economics at Harvard Business School.
She has served as a pharmacist in various positions at Well Pharmacy in the UK and Concord Pharmacy and CVS Health in the US after obtaining pharmaceutical licenses from both the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Foray into Pharmacy
Adeola’s career in pharmacy kicked off at Well Pharmacy (formerly known as The Co-operative Pharmacy) in 2009, where she began as a pre-registration pharmacist. By 2012, she had become a pharmacy manager.
Her journey continued as she joined Concord Pharmacy for a year, before making a significant move to CVS Health in 2015, where she dedicated 2 years and 6 months of her professional life.
About OneHealth
The genesis of OneHealth is a story deeply rooted in Adeola’s personal experience. It all started when Adeola and her family relocated to Nigeria.
It was during this transition that she faced a significant challenge, the unavailability of specific medications for her son who had suffered from infant Asthma.
This personal struggle gave birth to OneHealth. Adeola vividly recalls,
- “OneHealth started with my inability to get some medications for my son, and then I had to order it and have it shipped to Nigeria. Then I realized that for people who have these conditions long-term, it could be a huge challenge if one could not access their medications when they needed them.”
This moment of realization marked the beginning of a mission to bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility in Nigeria.
As a mother of three children, Adeola’s deep care for their well-being was a driving force behind her commitment to making a change believing that everyone, irrespective of age or status, deserves easy access to specialized medications when needed.
Initially, OneHealth took the form of a physical pharmacy but evolved to meet the growing needs of the community and went digital to reach a wider audience.
The business empowered Adeola Alli to harness the potential of technology in ensuring timely and appropriate access to essential medications.
Achievements
Adeola has been acknowledged by Google for Startups Accelerator Africa and has been selected as one of the esteemed recipients of the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund.
Additionally, OneHealth secured funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its participation in the Investing in Innovation initiative.
Her passion for healthcare and entrepreneurship led her to participate in Nigeria’s First Digital Startup Accelerator Program, an initiative hosted by Forbes and powered by the Global Startup Ecosystem in 2020.
Her dedication to innovation was further highlighted when she became a Startup Lab Finalist for the Global Health Summit in 2020 and a featured speaker at the prestigious Ehingbeti Lagos Economic Summit in 2021.
Moreover, Adeola’s commitment to advancing healthcare through technology and innovation is evident in her involvement in a Microsoft Accelerator program through OneHealth.
She has also been a prominent speaker at notable events such as the Africa Digital Health Summit and the Cyber for Health Care conference by the Cyber Peace Institute.
Adeola Alli continues to lead OneHealth towards transformative impacts in the healthcare industry.
Adeola, in her personal life, enjoys networking, and fitness and cherishes the moments she spends with her friends and family.
Nairametrics
