The Federal Government of Nigeria has entered into a €10.2 million partnership agreement with the European Union (EU) and the Government of France aimed at advancing Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and enhancing access to quality healthcare across the country.
According to a statement released by the European Union on Sunday, the partnership was signed under the Global Gateway’s Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies Initiative.
The project, titled Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (QUALIMED), seeks to reinforce Nigeria’s pharmaceutical ecosystem by promoting the local production of high-quality medicines, strengthening health systems, and boosting innovation-driven research.
Okay News reports that the initiative is expected to modernise Nigeria’s drug production capacity and reduce dependency on imported medical products. The project will also enhance the role of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) as a regional hub for bioequivalence studies, quality control, and stability analysis, fostering collaboration with other African countries such as Rwanda and Senegal.
During the signing ceremony, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Gautier Mignot, said the partnership underscores the EU’s commitment to building resilient and sustainable health systems in Africa.
“Let’s combine the strength of our EU-Nigeria and EU-ECOWAS partnerships with the dynamism of our companies on both sides to achieve a common goal — making Nigerian healthcare sustainable, accessible, and affordable for all,” he stated.
France’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, reiterated France’s commitment to global health solidarity, saying that the initiative aligns with France’s Global Health Strategy built on equity, human dignity, and cooperation. He added that the programme reflects the shared determination to enhance healthcare delivery and empower communities through technology and innovation.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system. “We want to ensure that our people not only get the highest level of access to healthcare but also benefit from socioeconomic development, job creation, technology transfer, and capacity building,” he said.
Through laboratory upgrades, workforce training, and technology transfer, the QUALIMED project is expected to help Nigeria achieve greater self-sufficiency in vaccine and medicine production, strengthen regulatory compliance, and promote gender equality in the pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing sectors.
Expected outcomes include upgraded NIPRD laboratories that meet international standards, improved Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance, expanded clinical research networks, and deeper integration of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry into the global innovation ecosystem.
