The Federal Government, in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and France, has signed a strategic partnership agreement under the Global Gateway’s Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies (MAV+) Initiative. The goal of this partnership is to strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and enhance its local health systems.
With a total funding of €10.2 million—comprising €10 million from the EU and €200,000 co-financing from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs—the 44-month project (2025–2028) will be executed in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), and other local institutions.
The initiative, titled Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (Qualimeds Nigeria), seeks to boost Nigeria’s pharmaceutical ecosystem by increasing the local production of quality-assured medicines, improving access to essential health technologies, and encouraging research-driven innovation.
The project also aims to strengthen NIPRD’s role as a regional reference centre for key functions such as bioequivalence testing, stability studies, and quality control, while fostering collaboration with countries like Rwanda and Senegal.
During the signing ceremony held at the Nigeria-EU Health Investment Forum in Abuja, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, highlighted the importance of the collaboration, describing it as evidence of the long-standing partnership between the EU, France, and Nigerian as well as West African stakeholders.
The ambassador emphasised the necessity of building strong, resilient, and efficient health and social welfare systems to ensure prosperity for all.
He said: “Let’s combine the strength of our EU-Nigeria official partnership, EU-ECOWAS official partnership, with the dynamism of our companies on both sides to achieve a common goal: making Nigeria healthcare life-saving and sustainable, diversified, accessible, and affordable for all Nigerians, creating jobs and opportunities.”
Mignot also expressed his desire to extend this initiative across the rest of West Africa and the entire continent.
France’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, reaffirmed France’s dedication to the partnership through its Global Health Strategy.
Emphasising that the strategy is built on the principles of equity, solidarity, and human dignity, he expressed satisfaction with France’s involvement, citing the shared values and joint commitment to improving health systems and empowering communities.
He said, “I am very proud that France, through the French Development Agency, is truly contributing to the implementation of the Qualimeds Nigeria project, as part of the Team Europe initiative. It truly reflects our shared values and collective commitment to strengthening health systems, advancing equity, and empowering communities through improved access to essential products and services.”
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIPRD, Dr Obi Adigwe, underscored the importance of strategic collaboration in advancing Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry and reinforcing local health infrastructure.
He stated, “We want to ensure that our people not only get the highest level of access to healthcare but also catalyse socioeconomic development, job creation, capacity building, technology transfer, and revenue generation.”
Through laboratory modernisation, technology transfer, and workforce training, the project is expected to enhance Nigeria’s capacity for self-sufficiency in medicine and vaccine production, improve regulatory compliance, and promote gender equality in biomanufacturing and scientific research.
Key outcomes anticipated from the initiative include the modernisation of NIPRD laboratories to meet international standards, higher levels of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance, stronger clinical research networks, and better integration of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector into global innovation and production systems.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), Dr Abdu Mukhtar, emphasised the government’s efforts to position healthcare as a catalyst for economic growth and industrialisation, ensuring that all Nigerians can access affordable, high-quality care.
He said: “Today, we are signing new commitments, including those under the MAV+ initiative, to expand vaccine and health product manufacturing. The end goal is that every Nigerian, regardless of status or location, can access affordable, quality healthcare.
“Knowing that we cannot do this alone, we fully recognise the importance of this day. The EU, its Member States, and other development partners have been steadfast partners in this journey, supporting healthcare optimisation in Nigeria.”
The agreement reaffirms the EU and France’s shared commitment to enhancing health security, promoting local manufacturing, and fostering sustainable development in Nigeria’s health sector.
Through cooperation, investment, and initiatives such as MAV+, all three parties have demonstrated their dedication to building a resilient and thriving healthcare system in Nigeria and the broader West African region.
