By Adebayo Oladejo
Four decades after his passing, the family of late Pharm. Solomon Adegboyega Afon, founder of Safco Chemist Limited, Benin, Edo State, has celebrated his enduring legacy in community pharmacy and pharmaceutical distribution, describing his life as one defined by vision, integrity, and service.
Established in 1976, Safco Chemist Limited was actively involved in retail, wholesale, and the distribution of pharmaceutical products, serving the healthcare needs of its host community at a time when structured drug supply systems were still developing in Nigeria.
The company earned a reputation for reliability and professionalism under the leadership of its founder.
Pharm. Afon, a 1973 graduate of the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, was widely regarded by peers as a forward-thinking pharmacist committed to expanding access to quality medicines.
Following his death in 1986, Safco Chemist Limited continued operations under new management led by his son, Pharm. Adebayo Afon, a University of Benin Pharmacy graduate, sustaining its presence in the pharmaceutical space for nearly two decades before it was eventually liquidated in 2004.
Despite the company’s closure, the values and vision of its founder have continued to resonate through his children, who have remained active in the pharmaceutical sector.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Pharm. Bayo Afon, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Afonchies Pharmacy and Safco Mega Solutions, said their father’s legacy continues to shape their professional and personal pursuits.
“Our father built more than a business; he built a legacy anchored on service, discipline, and integrity,” he said. “Forty years after his passing, those values remain the foundation of everything we do.”
He explained that Afonchies Pharmacy, which he described as a direct offshoot of the defunct Safco Chemist Limited, was established to continue the vision of patient-centred care, while Safco Mega Solutions focuses on wholesale pharmaceutical distribution to meet growing healthcare demands.
“Though Safco Chemist is no longer in existence, its spirit lives on through what we are building today. We see ourselves as continuing a journey that started in 1976,” he added.
Industry observers, who doesn’t want his name in print note that the story of Safco Chemist Limited reflects both the growth and challenges of indigenous pharmaceutical enterprises in Nigeria, while underscoring the importance of legacy and continuity in the profession.
As family members, friends, and colleagues mark the 40th anniversary of his passing, Pharm. Solomon Adegboyega Afon is remembered not only as a pioneer in his field but as a man whose ideals continue to inspire a new generation of pharmacists.
