Landmark Agreements Signed to Strengthen Local Manufacturing and Investment in Nigeria's Pharmaceutical Ecosystem

Strategic Insights -

The Nigerian government, in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has signed three landmark agreements aimed at strengthening local manufacturing and stimulating investment across the pharmaceutical ecosystem. The agreements, part of the EU's Global Gateway Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies (MAV+) initiative, aim to support local producers and innovators in building a stronger and more resilient health ecosystem in Nigeria and West Africa. The agreements include Enabling Local Manufacturing of Health, Immunisation and Nutrition Commodities in Nigeria (ELM-N), Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (Qualimeds Nigeria), and Strengthening Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in West Africa.

Key Takeaways:

  • The agreements aim to strengthen local manufacturing and stimulate investment across the pharmaceutical ecosystem in Nigeria and West Africa.
  • The Nigerian government has committed to creating an enabling environment for investors and innovators through predictable regulations, strong institutions, and public-private collaborations.
  • The agreements are part of the EU's Global Gateway Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies (MAV+) initiative, and will support local producers and innovators in building a stronger and more resilient health ecosystem.
  • The agreements include Enabling Local Manufacturing of Health, Immunisation and Nutrition Commodities in Nigeria (ELM-N), Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (Qualimeds Nigeria), and Strengthening Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in West Africa.
  • The Nigerian government aims to make Nigeria's health transformation driven by ownership, accountability, and innovation, with the President declaring that Nigeria's health transformation will not be driven by aid and dependency alone.
  • The EU has been a long-standing partner of Nigeria and ECOWAS in health, supporting health in all its dimensions, including access to health services, large-scale immunisation, medical research, and family planning.
  • The EU has a large ongoing project of £45 million in Nigeria and almost £25 million in West Africa, funded by the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) and the Gates Foundation.
  • The forum aims to showcase the shared way to invest and commit, bringing together companies, banks, and financial institutions to network and discuss investments, opportunities in health, and plan those of tomorrow.
  • Nigeria is committed to ensuring that made-in-Nigeria health products serve not only its people but also the entire West African region and the world at large.
  • Nigeria's Renewed Hope Health Agenda is anchored on three pillars: Strengthening local production of health and pharmaceutical products, Expanding access for essential medicines and vaccines, and advancing sexual and reproductive health rights.

Statistics:

  • £45 million: the amount of funding for a large ongoing project in Nigeria by the EU, funded by the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) and the Gates Foundation.
  • £25 million: the amount of funding for a large ongoing project in West Africa by the EU, funded by the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) and the Gates Foundation.
  • Three: the number of landmark agreements signed, including Enabling Local Manufacturing of Health, Immunisation and Nutrition Commodities in Nigeria (ELM-N), Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (Qualimeds Nigeria), and Strengthening Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in West Africa.
  • Sixteen: the number of years of partnership between the EU and Nigeria in health.

Sources:

  • EU Global Gateway Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies (MAV+) initiative
  • European Union (EU)
  • Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
  • Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC)
  • National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD)
  • Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD)
  • Gates Foundation