The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has called on universities, pharmaceutical industries, and regulatory bodies to collaborate to enhance drug research and production in Nigeria. She made this call while delivering the 38th Marquis Memorial Lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on the topic: “Industry, Regulatory, and Academia: The Future of Pharmaceutical Research and Development in Nigeria is Now.”
The event, held at the OAK-Park Conference Hall, was attended by academics, industry leaders, and dignitaries both in person and online. It was organised to honour the late Professor Victor Olufemi Marquis, a pioneer in pharmaceutical research. Professor Adeyeye, who has strong ties to OAU, said Nigeria is facing serious health challenges like malaria, tuberculosis, diabetes, and high blood pressure. She explained that, although the pharmaceutical industry is growing, it still faces significant challenges, including inadequate funding and a lack of infrastructure.
She introduced a new idea in which NAFDAC, universities, and drug companies will collaborate. In this plan, the companies will support research in universities to help produce better-quality drugs and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines. She also announced that NAFDAC has recently received a “Maturity Level 3” rating from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which signifies Nigeria’s progress in controlling and regulating medicines.
The Dean of Pharmacy, Professor Francis Oladimeji, praised the plan, stating that it aligns with the vision of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to be a leader in drug research. He also spoke about Professor Marquis, saying his memory lives on through the lecture series. The event ended with Dr. A.O. Adepiti giving the vote of thanks.
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