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| L-R: Mr. Oshoke Ayebae, Business Development and Marketing Director, Fidson; Mr. Abiola Adebayo, Managing Director/CEO; Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, Chairman; Mr. Imokha Ayebae; Finance Director and Mr. Ola Ijimakin; Commercial Director at the 27th Annual General Meeting of Fidson Healthcare Plc, which held virtually on Thursday. |
Shareholders of Fidson Healthcare Plc, one of Nigeria's largest pharmaceutical companies, have approved a ₦3.6 billion dividend, representing ₦1.50 per 50 kobo ordinary share, at the company's 27th Annual General Meeting held virtually on Thursday.
The approval comes against the backdrop of a year in which the Company achieved key milestones in its growth trajectory.
It also coincides with the one-year anniversary of the smooth transition of leadership at both the Board and Management level — a transition shareholders acknowledged as a testament to Fidson's strong corporate governance culture and succession planning.
It also reflects shareholders' confidence in the Company's continued ability to deliver sustainable value despite a challenging operating environment.
The Founder and Chairman of Fidson, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, in his address to shareholders, said 2025 marked a defining year in the history of the Company.
“We recorded revenue of ₦119.06 billion, becoming the first pharmaceutical company in Nigeria to surpass the ₦100 billion annual revenue milestone. This achievement reflects the dedication of our people, the confidence of our shareholders, and the effectiveness of our long-term growth strategy.”
Also recognising critical enablers of the business, Dr. Ayebae expressed profound gratitude to the Federal Government for improving the operating environment for local pharmaceutical manufacturers through strategic policies. He said the measures had strengthened the capacity of industry players like Fidson to meet the high demand for affordable pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.
Dr. Ayebae added that, beyond financial performance, the Company continued to make strategic investments that will shape the future of healthcare manufacturing in Africa.
He said, “Our ongoing expansion projects have reached advanced stages and, upon completion, will position Fidson as the largest and most sophisticated pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are confident that Fidson is well-positioned to deliver sustainable growth, deepen healthcare access, and continue to create superior value for our shareholders and all stakeholders.”
Responding to questions and comments from shareholders, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Biola Adebayo, reaffirmed the Company's commitment to sustaining growth through innovation, manufacturing excellence, and strategic investments.
"Our focus remains clear—to deepen our manufacturing capabilities, widen our product portfolio, improve market penetration, and build a healthcare institution that delivers value to consumers, healthcare professionals, shareholders, and society at large.
"We will achieve this by leveraging emerging opportunities across Africa and continually strengthening our processes for sustainable growth."
Shareholders who spoke during the meeting commended the Board and Management for maintaining the Company's growth trajectory and a dividend policy that rewards investors while preserving adequate resources for future expansion. They also expressed confidence in Management's ability to build on existing achievements and further strengthen Fidson's position as the leading pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Nigeria.
In addition to approving the dividend, shareholders considered and approved the resolutions presented at the AGM. These included the election and re-election of directors, authorisation to fix the auditors' remuneration, and the election of members of the Statutory Audit Committee, reinforcing the Company's commitment to transparency, accountability, and sound corporate governance.
The meeting also highlighted Fidson's continued commitment to accessible shareholder engagement through electronic annual reports, e-dividend platforms, and virtual AGM participation. The initiatives enable shareholders to participate more conveniently in the affairs of the Company.
As Fidson Healthcare Plc moves into a new phase of growth, the Company remains committed to its vision of adding value to lives through quality pharmaceutical products. It also aims to deliver sustainable returns to shareholders while contributing meaningfully to the development of Africa's healthcare ecosystem.
