Nigeria has taken a significant step towards transforming its pharmaceutical sector with a landmark $5.5 billion investment in health manufacturing.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate, on Sunday, April 27, announced the advancement of 22 new large-scale health sector manufacturing projects, underlining the government’s commitment to improving the country’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities.
“Under the innovative leadership of H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, @officialABAT, Nigeria has advanced 22 new large-scale health sector manufacturing projects funded by $5.5 billion in private sector capital,” Dr. Pate said in a statement posted on his X account.
He added that while these investments are crucial, there is an increasing focus on cultivating a world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing workforce within Nigeria.
In addition to the significant private investment, Nigeria recently secured €1 billion from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and $1 billion from AFREXIMBANK to drive health sector value chain localization.
These funds are seen as critical to supporting the country’s goals of self-reliance in pharmaceutical production.
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Further enhancing Nigeria’s pharmaceutical landscape, Dr. Pate announced the signing of an agreement with the Empower School of Health, Geneva, to establish the Empower Academy Nigeria.
The academy will be Africa’s foremost pharmaceutical manufacturing training institute, aimed at upskilling professionals for the local production of pharmaceutical excipients, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and advanced dosage forms, including inhalers and extended-release medications.
“The Empower Academy Nigeria will advance best practice in process engineering, regulatory compliance, quality control, environmental monitoring, and other important fields,” Dr. Pate said.
The Minister also said the academy, set to train up to 2,000 Nigerian professionals annually, and will be equipped with cutting-edge facilities while supported by key international partners such as the Africa CDC, the World Health Organization, the UN Institute for Training and Research, and the International Federation of Pharmacists.
This initiative comes at a crucial time when Nigeria seeks to increase its self-sufficiency in critical sectors like healthcare and pharmaceuticals, which are essential for the country’s long-term development.