By Muhammad Baqir
In a major push to boost local drug production, the Nigerian government has signed a key agreement with Geneva’s Empower School of Health to set up a regional training hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The deal, announced by Prof. Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, is part of broader efforts to expand Nigeria’s healthcare industry.
Speaking in a recent broadcast, Pate revealed that 70 new healthcare manufacturers are in talks with the government for 22 large-scale projects. He hailed the new Empower Academy Nigeria as a critical milestone under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I am pleased to inform you that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria has taken a giant step forward in its effort to localise the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in our country for the benefit of our people, our economy, and our region at large,” Pate stated.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to tackle workforce shortages in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector, which currently faces a gap of 5,000 to 7,000 skilled professionals in areas like advanced manufacturing and regulatory affairs.
The academy will offer specialized training, support regulatory bodies like NAFDAC, and collaborate with global institutions such as the WHO and Africa CDC.
By 2030, Nigeria plans to produce at least 70% of its pharmaceuticals domestically, expand vaccine production, and increase its share of Africa’s pharmaceutical market to 15%.
“With over 70 new healthcare manufacturing companies partnering on 22 large-scale projects presently in negotiations… we have now corrected the missing link—a platform in Nigeria for developing our healthcare manufacturing workforce,” Pate added.
The initiative has already attracted major financial backing, including €1 billion from the European Investment Bank and $1 billion from the African Development Bank. Training at the academy will initially focus on quality drug production before advancing to complex areas like active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and inhalers.
To ensure nationwide impact, the academy will be strategically located beyond Lagos and Ogun, where most pharmaceutical firms are currently based. Pate credited the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PIVAC) for driving the reforms, calling it part of a “Nigerian renaissance in full motion.”
“Today, we are providing a platform that opens the doors for tens of thousands of new and existing professionals to grow their capacity for the benefit of all our citizens, our continent, and for the world,” he said.
The Empower School of Health will co-invest in the Nigerian academy, supported by grants from international partners. The move aligns with Nigeria’s broader healthcare strategy, including the recently launched National Health Fellows Program to train future leaders across all 774 local government areas.
Leave a comment