By The Federal Government aims to boost local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical devices to 70% by 2030 under the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, announced on Sunday.
Speaking in a video post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Pate said the initiative also targets the domestic production of a large portion of vaccines consumed in Nigeria.
“This historic development would not have been possible without the critical work of the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain, PAC, undertaken since its establishment by the president in November 2023 under the leadership of its national coordinator, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar,” Pate stated. “It has led to several high-value investment commitments with the mandate to increase local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products in Nigeria to at least 70% and a large portion of the vaccines that we consume by 2030.”
The minister said the initiative also seeks to grow the life sciences workforce by tens of thousands, up from the current 20,000 full-time employees.
To support this goal, the government has partnered with the Empower School of Health, Geneva, Switzerland, to launch the Empower Academy Nigeria—a regional training hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
“Only a few days ago, the foremost Swiss academy, the Empower School of Health Geneva, signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a regional training hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing in Nigeria, which will be launched very soon. It will be named Empower Academy Nigeria,” Pate said.
According to him, the academy will focus on advanced manufacturing, regulatory sciences, and quality assurance, offering modern training for students and supporting agencies like NAFDAC. It will also provide certification courses in collaboration with global bodies including the World Health Organization, Africa CDC, UNITAR, and the International Federation of Pharmacists.
“In partnership with regional bodies and international organizations, with the World Health Organization, Africa Centers for Disease Control, the UN Institute for Training and Research, and the International Federation of Pharmacists and others, conducted by trainers with 10 to 20 years of experience each, the efficacy of the institution will be measured by key performance indicators in conformity with global best practice,” Pate said.
He also disclosed that more than 70 new healthcare manufacturing companies are already engaged in 22 large-scale projects, with negotiations ongoing with various international financiers.
Pate expressed gratitude to fellow ministers Jumoke Oduole and John Enoh for their contributions in driving the initiative through the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, stressing its importance in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, growing the economy, and reducing dependence on imported medicines.
