Nigeria and Brazil have gone ahead and signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding – MoU in order to push local pharma manufacturing, broader industrial cooperation, and vaccine production. The agreement has been signed between the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain – PVAC, Oaks Medical Limited, and EMS Brazil.
Dr. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, who went on to preside over the ceremony, said that it was a direct outcome of the high-level discussions that took place between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil.
Pate, while speaking at the ceremony, reaffirmed the determination of the government to reposition the health industry of Nigeria for self-dependence along with global competitiveness.
This kind of strategic collaboration crops up from the high-level engagements that have taken place between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his counterpart from Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at recent official by President Tinubu visit to Brazil, where both the leaders committed themselves to expanding their cooperation when it comes to vaccine production and pharmaceutical development, along with a much wider industrial growth.
The MoU that has been signed to push local pharma manufacturing is indeed a concrete expression of their commitment when it comes to making the local manufacturing of vaccines and essential medicines more robust. It transforms the presidential-level commitments into operational partnerships, which advance the health security of both the nations and also speed up the industrial development under the gamut of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
By way of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative – NHSRII, they are indeed systematically unlocking the healthcare value chain, expanding technology transfer, and decreasing the dependence on imports, and at the same time, positioning Nigeria as a regional manufacturing powerhouse.
Daju Kachollom, the Permanent Secretary, FMOH, stressed the prominence of the partnership and also the commitment by the Ministry when it comes to driving certain reforms that are impactful.
He added the day indeed goes on to mark yet another important step when it comes to the journey of Nigeria towards building a much more resilient as well as competitive health industry. This collaboration happens to reflect their collective determination in order to strengthen local manufacturing, widen the access to essential health commodities, and also make sure that the government-led reforms go on to translate into real opportunities for their people.
Kachollom further said that they welcome their partners from Brazil and also the private sector and look forward to a collaboration that is productive and is going to unlock novel possibilities throughout the healthcare value chain.
When it comes to his part, the National Coordinator of PVAC, Dr. Abdul Mukhtar, underscored the role of the initiative in addressing the systemic challenges. He said that the PVAC was established in order to unlock the bottlenecks that are prevalent in the healthcare value chain of Nigeria. This collaboration is indeed a major leap towards attaining sustainable, local vaccine and pharmaceutical production, which goes on to meet the national and regional requirements.
Mr. Ricardo Marques representing the Brazilian partner EMS Brazil went on to express his confidence when it comes to the joint effort, stating that Brazil is indeed proud to work alongside Nigeria when it comes to this transformative initiative. Their collaboration is going to strengthen the industrial linkages, support the long-term goal of pharmaceutical independence in Nigeria, and also deepen the technical cooperation.
Oaks Medical Limited’s Dr. Ayotunde Oyedeji stated that the MoU does align with the ambition of Nigeria so as to build a robust and more resilient pharmaceutical manufacturing base. They are indeed pleased to be part of this endeavour to give sustainable access when it comes to medical products that are high-quality.
