The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, announced on Sunday that the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) aims to increase Nigeria’s local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products to at least 70% by 2030.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a video shared on X, Pate revealed that the initiative also seeks to substantially grow the number of full-time employees working in life sciences manufacturing. Currently, there are about 20,000 workers in the sector, but this figure is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

Additionally, Pate highlighted the creation of Empower Academy Nigeria, a pharmaceutical manufacturing training institute, in collaboration with Empower Swiss, Geneva. This step is seen as a crucial move to localize the production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in Nigeria, benefiting both the economy and the wider West African region under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

Launched as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda in October 2023, PVAC aims to facilitate several investments and growth in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry. Pate elaborated, stating that the initiative has set ambitious goals, including increasing local pharmaceutical production to 70% of the country’s consumption by 2030, while also boosting vaccine production. Additionally, the initiative aims to enhance the workforce in life sciences manufacturing by tens of thousands, establish new biological and medical supply plants, and increase Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market share in Africa to at least 15%.

Prof. Pate also shared that over 70 healthcare manufacturing companies are currently involved in 22 large-scale projects, with international financing negotiations underway. These projects are backed by PVAC’s efforts.

The Empower Academy Nigeria will focus on addressing the significant workforce gap in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, regulatory sciences, and quality assurance. The academy will offer world-class training and develop professionals who can strengthen the sector’s regulatory framework. It will also provide specialized curricula for students and industry professionals, and assist regulatory bodies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Pate emphasized that Nigeria is on track to secure significant financing from international institutions such as the European Investment Bank and the African Bank to support the new healthcare manufacturers in the country.

With a goal to upskill thousands of professionals annually, Empower Academy Nigeria will promote best practices in areas such as process engineering, regulatory compliance, and business management, among others. The academy will partner with global bodies like the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control to deliver high-quality certification courses.

Pate concluded by reiterating Nigeria’s commitment to improving its pharmaceutical capabilities and empowering local professionals. He expressed confidence that this initiative would serve as a model for other nations to follow in developing robust pharmaceutical and biological manufacturing industries.