Founder of Olive Tree Compounding Pharmacy and Co-Founder of the Global Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding in Africa (GAPCA), Dr. Ndidiamaka Okpareke, has called on African pharmacists to embrace creativity, innovation, and resilience in driving the future of personalized medicine through compounding.

Dr. Okpareke made this passionate appeal while speaking virtually during the Maiden Summit on Pharmaceutical Compounding, held at Providence Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos on October 9, 2025, under the theme “Pharmacy Compounding in Africa: Shaping the Future for Nigeria.”

The summit was jointly organized by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), Global Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding in Africa (GAPCA), Centre for Pharmacy Practice Innovation & Optimization (CENPITOP), and Alpha Pharmacy.

In her presentation titled “Digging Well Before the Rain: The Story of Ndidiamaka Okpareke and Olive Tree Compounding Pharmacy,” the seasoned pharmacist and entrepreneur shared her inspiring personal journey — one that began with faith, purpose, and a deep desire to heal and innovate.

“Africa deserves the very best. I have seen compounding do wonders for many people in my community, and there is no reason we cannot have the same excellence in our communities back in Nigeria,” she declared.

Tracing her beginnings as a first-generation Nigerian-American, Dr. Okpareke said her path to pharmacy was unplanned but divinely aligned. Initially aspiring to become a doctor, her dream changed after a transformative experience at the University Teaching Hospital in Jos, Nigeria. “I saw the realities of medicine — long hours, suffering, and burnout — and realized my heart sought something different, something creative, human, and healing,” she said.

She recounted how her uncle, a successful pharmacist encouraged her to pursue pharmacy as a blend of healing and teaching. After nearly a decade of serving in hospital and retail pharmacy in the United States, exhaustion and routine pushed her to seek deeper fulfillment.

That turning point came when a close friend shared the profound metaphor that would later define her life’s philosophy: “Dig a well — and when the rain comes, it will fill it.”

Inspired, she made a daring leap into entrepreneurship without prior business training or compounding experience. In 2017, her dream materialized with the establishment of Olive Tree Compounding Pharmacy in Mexico, “not just as a business, but as a powerful movement,” she said.

Dr. Okpareke described compounding as “the soul of pharmacy — where science meets creativity.” Through Olive Tree, she provides customized medications tailored to individual patients’ needs, emphasizing that every prescription is personal, every formulation intentional, and every patient unique.

“I chose compounding because it is the art and science of customized care. It allows us to design specific formulations and unique combinations that traditional pharmacies simply cannot provide,” she explained.

Today, her vision has expanded into Olive Tree Skin Care Inc. and Olive Tree School, forming a holistic ecosystem rooted in innovation, wellness, and servant leadership. “Our focus remains one client at a time, one formulation at a time, transforming one life at a time,” she said.

Dr. Okpareke urged African pharmacists to build resilience and stay committed to purpose even when progress seems slow. “We may not be able to bring the rain, but we can dig the well and wait patiently for the rain to fill it. Purpose takes time and patience; rain follows preparation. And when your moment comes, it won’t just rain — it will overflow like a tsunami,” she said, drawing applause from participants.

Following her impactful presentation, attendees engaged her with questions about sustainable models for compounding practice in Africa, mentorship for young pharmacists, and how to balance innovation with regulatory compliance.

Her story, filled with faith, courage, and vision, resonated deeply with participants, leaving many inspired to redefine pharmacy not just as a profession but as a creative calling to heal and transform lives.