Starting from Jericho, Ibadan office to emerged World’s Best at the deep tech conference for scientists, technologists in France, Adebayo Alonge in this exclusive interview with InsideOyo.com team discusses his vision, company, anti-fake drugs nano scanner and plans for his home state, Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
Alonge, through his health tech startup RxAll, a co-developed a miniature nanoscanner that uses AI to identify fake drugs and assess general drug quality on mobile phones. He attributes his humble beginning to scientistic teachings from the school of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan (UI), his parent supports and management study abroad.
Excerpts from the interview:
InsideOyo: How do you feel about your new fame?
Alonge Adebayo: I am very grateful for everything.
InsideOyo: How did you get to where you are?
Alonge Adebayo: I decided to solve the problem of fake drugs after surviving a fake-drug induced coma. With the support of my parents and teachings from the University of Ibadan School of Pharmacy and the business school at Yale and Lagos Business School helped me a lot in the journey.
InsideOyo: Any plans of bringing your tech product to Ibadan and Nigeria soon?
Adebayo Alonge: Presently, our Africa head office is in Ibadan and we conduct all our continental operations from our office in Jericho Ibadan. So Ibadan, Nigeria is still the hub of our operations. As per the use of the product in Nigeria, we enjoin Nigerians to implore NAFDAC to give our solution a chance. They should use it. We have offered them risk-free incentives to scientifically validate our platform. We have over 1000 units in use globally, it is sad that we have been speaking to NAFDAC for 8 months and NAFDAC is yet to use it.
As soon as NAFDAC starts using our platform, we will get the SON certification and then make the product available to medical stores, hospitals, pharmacies and patients.
Alonge told InsideOyo.com that one of Nigeria’s largest hospitals has started using the tech solution to check fake drugs.
InsideOyo: You mentioned plans for digital skills work centre with the incoming gov’t of Seyi Makinde, tell us about this?
Adebayo Alonge: This is still in early stage planning. Our goal is to get Oyo diaspora to invest in digital skills work centres and the government will provide the buildings in the public schools. We will raise the international funding for the curriculum, teachers and equipment and every student will be engaged to sell their services online through the program.
He said his company is looking to invest ~$1 million to set up 100 digital work centres across the state and train at least 20,000 people. These 20,000 people will earn a digital income of at least $100 million in 4 years helping to bolster our local economy and reduce unemployment.
This program will also improve the tax base for the govt helping to contribute $10M+ to the state coffers with zero money contribution from state coffers.
Our team is looking for partners including telcom companies (for data services) and software/internet companies to support this mission. Please reach out to us
InsideOyo: Apart from the work centre, are there any other plans from your end to the Ibadan people?
Adebayo Alonge: I will continue to keep RxAll in Africa headquartered in Ibadan. So we will CONTINUE to generate employment and foster linkages to adjoining sectors. I will also leverage my Harvard & Yale connections to support the Oyo government as needed especially with regards to SOCIAL development using science and tech to empower the Oyo people and eliminate poverty in our society
InsideOyo: How would you say about success and the impact of your anti-fake drugs
Adebayo Alonge: Success ultimately is when no one dies from fake drugs anywhere in the world and when I can contribute to eliminating poverty in our society.
Please note this interview has been edited for clarity sake.
