The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, has revealed that the Federal Government, through the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, aims to increase local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical devices to 70% by 2030.
Pate made this known on Sunday in a video post shared via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, adding that the initiative also seeks to ensure that a significant portion of vaccines consumed in the country are produced locally. He credited this milestone to the critical efforts of the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PAC), established by President Bola Tinubu in November 2023 under the leadership of its national coordinator, Dr Abdu Mukhtar. According to Pate, the PAC’s work has already attracted several high-value investment commitments with the goal of raising local pharmaceutical manufacturing to 70% and boosting domestic vaccine production.
The minister noted that part of the initiative’s broader strategy includes significantly expanding the workforce in life sciences manufacturing, with the number of full-time employees expected to grow by tens of thousands from the current figure of about 20,000.
To support this vision, the government has partnered with the Empower School of Health in Geneva, Switzerland, to establish Empower Academy Nigeria, a regional training hub that will focus on building critical skills in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Pate disclosed that the Empower Academy would soon be launched and would train workers in areas such as advanced manufacturing, regulatory sciences, and quality assurance. It would also provide modern education for students and bolster agencies like NAFDAC to improve Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.
He explained that the academy would offer certification courses in collaboration with major international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), Africa CDC, UNITAR, and the International Federation of Pharmacists, with trainers bringing between 10 to 20 years of experience to the programme. The institution’s effectiveness would be measured by key performance indicators aligned with global best practices.
Pate further revealed that over 70 new healthcare manufacturing companies are engaged in 22 large projects, with discussions ongoing with international financiers. He thanked his fellow ministers, Jumoke Oduwole and John Enoh, for advancing the initiative through their efforts at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, contributing towards a stronger healthcare system, economic growth, and reduced reliance on imported medicines
