EU, France Partner Nigeria on €10.2m Project to Boost Local Medicine Production
The Federal Government of Nigeria has entered into a €10.2 million partnership agreement with the European Union (EU) and France aimed at strengthening the country’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and health systems under the Global Gateway’s Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies (MAV+) Initiative.
According to a statement issued by the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS on Sunday, the initiative, titled Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (QUALIMED), seeks to expand Nigeria’s production of quality-assured medicines, improve access to essential health technologies, and foster innovation through research.
The statement noted that the project would also enhance the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) as a regional reference centre for activities such as bioequivalence testing, stability studies, and quality control. The centre will collaborate with partners in Rwanda and Senegal to promote regional pharmaceutical development.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, described the initiative as a testament to the enduring partnership between the EU, France, and Nigeria. He emphasised the need to build robust and resilient health systems capable of delivering prosperity and well-being for all.
Read Also:
“Let’s combine the strength of our EU–Nigeria and EU–ECOWAS partnerships with the dynamism of our industries on both sides to achieve a shared goal — making Nigerian healthcare life-saving, sustainable, accessible, and affordable for all,” Mignot said, expressing optimism that the initiative would inspire similar efforts across West Africa and the African continent.
Also speaking, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Marc Fonbaustier, reaffirmed France’s commitment to the project under its Global Health Strategy, which is guided by the principles of equity, solidarity, and human dignity. He said France was proud to contribute to a partnership that seeks to strengthen health systems and empower communities across Africa.
The Director-General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership in advancing Nigeria’s pharmaceutical capacity.
“We are determined to ensure our people have access to high-quality healthcare while driving socioeconomic development through job creation, capacity building, technology transfer, and revenue generation,” he said.
The QUALIMED project will focus on laboratory modernisation, technology transfer, and workforce development, with the goal of improving Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in medicines and vaccines. It is also expected to enhance regulatory compliance and promote gender equity within the country’s biomanufacturing and research sectors.
Key outcomes of the initiative include the upgrading of NIPRD laboratories to meet international standards, improved adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), stronger clinical research networks, and deeper integration of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry into global innovation and production systems.
By PRNigeria
