The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has called for stronger collaboration between Nigerian universities and pharmaceutical manufacturers to drive the development of local medicines and vaccines.
Speaking at the 38th Prof. Victor Olufemi Marquis Memorial Lecture, hosted by the Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Adeyeye highlighted the critical role of academic-industry synergy in reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported medical products.
In a statement released by NAFDAC’s media consultant, Olusayo Akintola, the DG commended President Bola Tinubu’s recent import ban on certain products, describing it as a strategic move to stimulate local industry growth.
She urged universities to deepen their engagement with the pharmaceutical sector in research and development, stressing that such partnerships would not only address the nation’s healthcare challenges but also promote innovation, skill development, and knowledge transfer.
Adeyeye noted that these collaborations could help boost the local economy, create jobs, and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s GDP.
She also spoke on NAFDAC’s “Five Plus Five” Regulatory Directive, which requires that imported drugs with local alternatives be manufactured within the country after five years of importation. She said the policy had spurred growth, with 30 percent of new or revitalised pharmaceutical firms emerging from the initiative.
Citing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, she underscored the urgency of achieving self-reliance in healthcare through homegrown innovation.
NAFDAC, she added, plans to launch a pilot R&D programme in partnership with Nigerian universities and local pharmaceutical firms to further advance domestic drug development and production.
(NAN)
