How CNM’s Small Business Development Center Helped this Pharmacist Open New Mexico’s First Black-Owned Compound Pharmacy

When Ndidiamaka “Didi” Okpareke first enrolled at UNM, she didn’t plan on becoming a pharmacist. But then she took a few classes and fell in love with the program. Today, she’s the proud owner of Olive Tree Compounding Pharmacy in Rio Rancho, where she provides personalized care to the community.

“I started off at UNM in the Education program, but after talking with my family I decided to give pharmacy school a try,” Didi says. “As I moved through my course work, I found that I had a real knack for formulating and compounding medications. After I graduated and tried my hand at a few different things, I came back to New Mexico with the dream of opening my own pharmacy—and I haven’t looked back since.”

Didi opened Olive Tree Compounding Pharmacy in 2017 with the goal of providing tailored pharmaceutical care for each client. The business quickly took off, and in 2024 she moved to a larger physical location in Rio Rancho to better serve her growing client base of adults, children, and even pets.

As a compounding pharmacy, Didi and her staff formulate individualized medications for each client versus the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional pharmacies. They also offer personalized wellness care, a weight loss program, and a pharmaceutical grade skincare line.

Before opening Olive Tree, Didi spent two years building community connections and understanding the future of business in Rio Rancho. She also partnered with Francisquita “Fran” Fernandez, Director of CNM’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), to write a business plan, access market research, and execute her expansion plans.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of Fran and the SBDC,” Didi says. “I had a vision but didn’t have all the tools to bring that vision to reality. Fran helped me every step of the way. Plus, it was all free, which was vital when I was just getting started.”

As New Mexico’s first Black pharmacy owner and a first-generation Nigerian American, Didi is also determined to give back. She actively recruits and mentors young Black students, particularly women, encouraging them to consider careers in pharmacy. She runs several programs, including the Children’s Apothecary, a two-day program introducing kids to the daily life of a pharmacist, an online course called "My Olive Tree School," provides shadowing opportunities for pharmacy students, and does outreach at schools and community events.

Recently, Didi attended an event at Explora to speak with middle and high school students about her career and her impact.

“This was a group of mostly Black students, and when I introduced myself in three African languages, I saw their faces light up,” she recalls. “It was a beautiful moment to see them realize they can be rooted in their culture and still succeed, as a pharmacist or anything else they want to be. My hope is always that young people to see themselves in me —whether we’re in the pharmacy or out in the community.”

Moving forward, Didi plans to continue growing her business, mentoring aspiring pharmacists from across the country, and hopes to leave a lasting legacy in the pharmaceutical industry.

“My ultimate goal for Olive Tree is to build a brand and a business that long outlives me,” she says. “When you don’t share the knowledge and skills you have, the next generation loses out on so much. That’s why I’m so passionate about training young, Black women to become pharmacists, because I know when I retire, my work will continue to impact the community.”