Andrew Garza, co-founder of Nigerian healthtech Lifestores Healthcare, announced he is stepping back from his CEO role after eight years to transition to a board and advisory position. In a public post, Garza noted the move would allow him to spend more time with his family in London, where he is starting a new role focused on innovation at the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Garza hands the reins to his co-founder, Pharm. Gloria Udekwe, who will take over as the new CEO. “We’re in great hands for the next phase under the impressive leadership of our co-founder,” Garza stated, highlighting the “surreal” feeling of moving on after building the company from an idea to a platform “increasing access to quality medications for millions of patients.”

While personal, Garza’s departure continues an on-going exodus in African tech. It’s the latest data point in a significant, ecosystem-wide trend: the ‘Great Handover’ of Africa’s first generation of venture-backed founders.

For Lifestores, this transition is particularly telling. The company operates in Nigeria’s formidable $45 billion pharmaceuticals market, a sector expected to hit $100 billion by 2030 but crippled by fragmentation and a high prevalence (20–40%) of counterfeit drugs.

Lifestores’ model, which includes its B2B marketplace OGApharmacy and an ERP system for pharmacies, is not a simple tech play. It is a deeply logistical and regulatory challenge. After raising a $3 million pre-Series A in 2022, led by Health54 (the CVC arm of CFAO Group), the company’s focus is on scaling its network of over 750 pharmacies and penetrating a market where trust and quality control are paramount.