Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
The Federal Government’s collaboration with GSK to boost local drug production could be a transformative step toward establishing Nigeria as a pharmaceutical hub in Africa. This partnership, part of President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Initiative for unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), reflects Nigeria’s renewed focus on self-sustaining healthcare, economic resilience, and job creation.
Truth Live News gathered that Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, highlighted that reducing dependency on imported drugs and increasing local production could make Nigeria a supplier of essential medications across Africa. This ambition aligns with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and aims to ensure a reliable healthcare system that serves Nigeria’s growing population.
He said “GSK’s commitment to investing in Nigeria’s health sector through localised production marks a significant step toward achieving our health security objectives.
“The partnership aligns with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), a key component of building a robust healthcare system that meets the needs of Nigeria’s growing population.
“Through the PVAC framework, Nigeria aims to reduce reliance on imports, enhance economic resilience and boost job creation in the health sector.
“By fostering such collaborations, we are working to make high-quality healthcare accessible to all Nigerians, in alignment with the bold vision set forth by Mr President under PVAC.”
GSK’s commitment was categorized as a shared vision to bring high-quality, affordable healthcare products closer to Nigerians and to meet regional demand. Kunle Oyelana, GSK’s Vice President for Europe, reaffirmed the company’s support, especially through a proposed local production facility.
The benefits of this partnership extend beyond immediate health access to enhancing economic stability by fostering a positive investment climate that could counterbalance the recent trend of company exits from Nigeria.
By making strides toward local production, Nigeria could retain more investors and encourage multinational companies to view the country as a sustainable market, potentially reversing the outflow of businesses.