Nigeria partners Swiss firm to unveil drug manufacturing academy
The Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Empower School of Health (Empower Swiss) Geneva to establish a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Training Academy in Nigeria.
This strategic partnership aims to bridge the workforce gap in the pharmaceutical sector and support the national goal of producing 70 per cent of pharmaceuticals by 2030 and 60 per cent of vaccines by 2040 in line with the vision set by the Africa Centres for Disease Control.
A post on PVAC’s account sighted by our correspondent on Monday stated that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, said during the signing event, “Whatever it is you need to manufacture, you also need the talent—and the right talent.”
It said while Nigeria has a strong pool of graduates, many lack hands-on industry experience due to limited local manufacturing.
“Empower, a global leader in pharmaceutical training, brings experience from over 40 countries to help develop a phased, sustainable, and industry-aligned training academy. The initiative will empower youth, boost local production, and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare and economic landscape,” it added.
In December 2024, Pate noted that over 70 new healthcare manufacturing companies with robust projects are set to execute 22 large-scale initiatives in Nigeria.
He also said more than 10 value chain verticals have been established within the country, highlighting that these milestones align with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to transforming the health sector from a consumption-driven model to one that creates jobs and enhances economic value.
He added that PVAC inspired five development finance institutions to collaborate on dedicated financing platforms to unlock Nigeria’s healthcare value chain.
The Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain is a strategic initiative launched in October 2023 under the leadership of President Tinubu.
PVAC aims to catalyse the transformation of Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem through substantial investments and enhanced private-sector participation. The initiative seeks to address critical gaps in local manufacturing of life sciences products and healthcare services.
