To maintain health in Nigeria and build robust research and development system, the Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (DG-NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has charged universities including pharmaceutical firms to work together to develop local vaccine and drugs.
This was disclosed in statement shared on Saturday. She gave this charge while speaking at the 38th Prof. Victor Olufemi Marquis Memorial Lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University, reflecting on the importation ban placed by President Bola Tinubu, urging Nigeria institutes to make use of available products and enhance production.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye emphasized the need for closer cooperation between universities and industries to meet Nigeria’s health challenges and reduce the country’s dependence on imported medicines.
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She said that universities play a key role in sharing knowledge, training professionals, and supporting local drug manufacturing through research.
According to her, NAFDAC already partners with several universities and helps students gain hands-on experience in the pharmaceutical field. She also pointed to improvements in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector, linking some of the progress to the “Five Plus Five” Regulatory Directive.
This policy limits the importation of certain drugs to encourage local production. She noted that about 30% of newly established drug manufacturing companies grew because of this initiative.
Prof. Adeyeye called for greater investment in vaccine production, clinical trials, and drug development within the country. She believes that stronger collaboration will lead to job creation, better healthcare services, and a reduced burden of disease across Nigeria.
