The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is advocating for greater collaboration between Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturers and universities to drive the development of new medicines and vaccines
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called for increased collaboration between Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturers and universities to foster the development of new medicines and vaccines.
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NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this call in a statement released on Sunday by the agency’s media consultant, Olusayo Akintola, in Abuja.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasised the importance of collaboration between academia and the pharmaceutical industry in reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported medical products.
She commended President Bola Tinubu’s recent ban on the importation of readily available products, describing it as a step towards boosting the growth of local industry.
Prof. Adeyeye urged universities to partner with the pharmaceutical sector in research and development, noting that such collaborations would help address specific healthcare needs.
“This initiative has contributed to the growth of the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry, with 30 per cent of new or revitalised local manufacturing companies resulting from it,” she said.
She highlighted the potential contributions of universities in developing skills, transferring knowledge, and fostering innovation.
Prof. Adeyeye stated that such partnerships would stimulate the local economy, reduce unemployment, and increase Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP).
She also discussed NAFDAC’s “Five Plus Five” Regulatory Directive, which mandates that imported pharmaceutical products that are also produced locally must be manufactured in Nigeria after five years of importation.
“This initiative has contributed to the growth of the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry, with 30 per cent of new or revitalised local manufacturing companies resulting from it,” she said.
Prof. Adeyeye stressed the importance of local innovation in achieving self-sufficiency in healthcare, particularly in light of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in the global business landscape.
“NAFDAC plans to initiate a pilot R&D collaboration programme involving Nigerian universities and pharmaceutical manufacturers to further enhance local production and research capabilities,” she added.
