•Blue capsules on conveyor at modern pharmaceutical factory
The federal government has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the European Union (EU) and France under the Global Gateway’s Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies (MAV+) Initiative.
The agreement is meant to advance Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and strengthen local health systems, reports The Nation.
With a total investment of €10.2 million (including €10 million from the EU and €200,000 co-financing from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs), the 44-month project (2025-2028) will be implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), and other local partners.
The project, which is named Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (Qualimeds Nigeria), aims to bolster Nigeria’s pharmaceutical ecosystem by expanding the local production of quality-assured medicines, improving access to essential health technologies, and promoting research-based innovation.
The project is also expected to reinforce NIPRD as a regional reference centre for critical activities, such as bioequivalence, stability studies, and quality control, fostering regional collaboration with Rwanda and Senegal.
Speaking during the signing ceremony at the just-concluded Nigeria-EU Health Investment Forum in Abuja, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, emphasised the importance of this collaboration.
The envoy described it as proof of the enduring partnership between the EU, France, and Nigerian and West African stakeholders.
He stressed the need to build robust, resilient, and efficient health and social welfare systems to ensure prosperity for all.
Mignot said: “Let’s combine the strength of our EU-Nigeria official partnership, EU-ECOWAS official partnership, with the dynamism of our companies on both sides to achieve a common goal: making Nigeria healthcare life-saving and sustainable, diversified, accessible, and affordable for all Nigerians, creating jobs and opportunities.”
The envoy said he wished to expand this vision across the rest of West Africa and the continent.
France’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, underscored France’s commitment to the partnership through the Global Health Strategy.
Noting that the principles guiding this strategy are equity, solidarity, and human dignity, he expressed pride in France’s contributions, stating the shared values and commitment to enhancing health systems and empowering communities.
He said: “I am very proud that France, through the French Development Agency, is truly contributing to the implementation of the Qualimeds Nigeria project, as part of the Team Europe initiative. It truly reflects our shared values and collective commitment to strengthening health systems, advancing equity, and empowering communities through improved access to essential products and services.”
The Director General/CEO of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, highlighted the significance of strategic partnerships in advancing Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing and strengthening local health systems.
“We want to ensure that our people not only get the highest level of access to healthcare, but also catalyse socioeconomic development, job creation, capacity building, technology transfer, and revenue generation,” he said.
Through laboratory modernisation, technology transfer, and workforce training, the project is expected to boost Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in medicines and vaccines, enhance regulatory compliance, and promote gender equity in biomanufacturing and research.
The expected outcomes of the initiative include upgraded NIPRD laboratories meeting international standards, increased Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance, stronger clinical research networks, and better integration of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector into global innovation and production systems.
Also, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, emphasised PVAC’s efforts to position healthcare as a driver of economic growth and industrialisation, ensuring that all Nigerians have access to affordable, quality healthcare.
He said: “Today, we are signing new commitments, including those under the MAV+ initiative, to expand vaccine and health product manufacturing. The end goal is that every Nigerian, regardless of status or location, can access affordable, quality healthcare.
“Knowing that we cannot do this alone, we fully recognise the importance of this day. The EU, its Member States, and other development partners have been steadfast partners in this journey, supporting healthcare optimisation in Nigeria.”
This partnership reaffirms the joint commitment of the EU and France to improving health security, supporting local manufacturing, and driving sustainable growth within Nigeria’s health sector.
Through cooperation, investment and initiative such as MAV+, all three signatories have demonstrated their dedication to building a resilient and prosperous health sector in Nigeria and the wider region.
