The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged Nigerian universities and pharmaceutical manufacturers to work more closely together to develop new medicines and vaccines.
Speaking at the 38th Prof. Victor Olufemi Marquis Memorial Lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, stated that this partnership is key to reducing Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported medical products.
Mrs Adeyeye praised President Bola Tinubu’s recent ban on importing medicines that can be produced locally, describing it as an important step toward expanding Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry.
She encouraged universities to collaborate with pharmaceutical firms on research and development to address Nigeria’s specific healthcare needs, emphasising the role universities play in building skills, sharing knowledge, and driving innovation. She explained that such cooperation would not only improve healthcare but also boost the economy by creating jobs and increasing the country’s GDP.
Mrs Adeyeye also discussed NAFDAC’s “Five Plus Five” Regulatory Directive, which requires that medicines imported for five years and also made locally must eventually be produced within Nigeria.
This policy has already helped expand local manufacturing, with 30% of new or revived drug companies emerging as a result.
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