Delivering Innovation and Improving Access to Medication

When Chidozie (Michael) Nzekwe was a young boy in Lagos, Nigeria, he dreamed of becoming a pharmacist. Today, he is turning his dream into something bigger – a tech-driven solution aimed at improving access to medication.

“For me, pharmacy is the intersection of science, care and creativity,” says Chidozie, who was inspired to enter the field by his mother, a biologist, and brother, a medical doctor.

While working as a pharmacist during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chidozie saw firsthand how fragmented drug distribution systems left some regions of Lagos with shortages and others with surpluses.

“That experience sparked my passion for finding ways to streamline distribution and improve access,” he shares.

After moving to Canada, Chidozie earned a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Healthcare Management from CBU in 2025 while juggling two part-time jobs. His entrepreneurial spirit caught the attention of Todd Graham, manager of CBU’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, who encouraged Chidozie to join the Collide Discover 3-Day program.

Collide Discover is an innovation and entrepreneurial skills program delivered by Dal Innovates and CEED. It helps students explore design thinking, learn how to develop a value proposition and build a business model canvas.

“Collide was eye-opening and made what I had in mind for years very clear,” says Chidozie, who went on to win the Collide Discover pitch competition.

The idea came to him while working at the Black Diamond Pharmacy in Glace Bay. Chidozie noticed a growing trend – more physicians were sending e-prescriptions, but home delivery was still complicated and inconvenient. “To get a prescription delivered, patients had to confirm with the pharmacy and then request delivery or make the trip themselves,” he explains.

It was witnessing these experiences that inspired Chidozie to come up with the idea for ScriptGo, an app to connect patients, pharmacies and delivery partners. Following Collide Discover, Chidozie participated in Collide Validate to test his idea in the marketplace and further explore how the prescription delivery process could be streamlined.

Through the customer discovery process, he learned that if pharmacists used an app to schedule deliveries, drivers could then enter package delivery data, allowing patients to track their prescriptions in real time.  “Think DoorDash but for medication deliveries,” says Chidozie. “By optimizing routes with certified drivers, we can ensure speed, security and convenience for patients.”

Chidozie sees home delivery not only as more convenient for patients but also beneficial for pharmacists. This new approach offers privacy for sensitive medications and provides an additional tool to support adherence to medication schedules, especially for elderly or immunocompromised individuals.

“Collide helped me shift my mindset and critically evaluate my ideas,” he says. “I’ve integrated design thinking to better understand the needs of potential users rather than just focusing on the technology.”

Chidozie plans to launch ScriptGo in Canada and is already lining up drivers to pilot his venture. “I want patients to feel secure and connected,” he says. “By ensuring they can track their medications and pharmacies can deliver better care, we’re closing the gap in access.”

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