Dr Ifeanyi Eric Okoye, chief executive officer of Juhel Nigeria Limited, has emerged as the new president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), taking over leadership of the body at a time when manufacturers continue to face high production costs and other business challenges.
Okoye was elected at MAN’s 54th Annual General Meeting held on October 7, 2026, at the Lagos Oriental Hotel. He succeeds Francis Meshioye, who completed his four-year tenure as president.
His emergence brings an experienced pharmaceutical industry executive to the helm of the association, which represents manufacturers across Nigeria and engages government and other stakeholders on policies affecting industrial growth.
Okoye founded Juhel Nigeria Limited in 1987. The company, headquartered in Enugu State, has grown into an indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturer with production operations covering different categories of medicines.
Juhel moved to its permanent production site in Emene, Enugu, in 1989 and expanded into the production of syrups and capsules in 2001.
In 2010, it opened a major parenteral manufacturing facility in Awka, Anambra State, further expanding its manufacturing capacity.
The new MAN president holds a pharmacy degree from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University.
He also earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he graduated as the best student in his class.
Beyond his business interests, Okoye has maintained a longstanding relationship with MAN, having served as chairman of its Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi state branches between 1998 and 2005. He later served as the association’s vice-president from 2006 to 2010.
He has also contributed to public-sector initiatives, including serving on the governing council of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria from 2009 to 2022.
He was also a member of the Ministerial Committee on the Establishment of World-Class Hospitals and Diagnostic Centres between 2013 and 2015.
Okoye is a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, an alumnus of Harvard Business School and a recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, conferred on him in 2012.
His appointment comes as Nigerian manufacturers continue to contend with elevated energy expenses, foreign exchange pressures, infrastructure constraints and the cost of maintaining production amid changing economic conditions.
These challenges have continued to shape discussions around industrial policy, local production, investment and the competitiveness of Nigerian-made goods.
As the new president, Okoye will lead the association in representing manufacturers’ interests and engaging policymakers on measures that can strengthen the country’s industrial sector.
His experience in pharmaceutical production and previous leadership roles within MAN are expected to inform his approach to the association’s priorities.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria remains an important platform for businesses seeking policy reforms and improved operating conditions to support local production, investment and employment.
