The Federal Government of Nigeria has entered into a strategic partnership with the European Union (EU) and France under the Global Gateway’s Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies Initiative.
According to a statement issued by the EU on Sunday, the collaboration aims to strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and enhance the resilience of its health systems.
The project, titled Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (QUALIMED), is valued at €10.2 million. It seeks to expand the local production of quality-assured medicines, improve access to essential health technologies, and promote research-driven innovation in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.
The initiative will also reinforce the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) as a regional reference centre for bioequivalence studies, stability testing, and quality control, fostering collaboration with Rwanda and Senegal.
During the signing ceremony, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described the partnership as evidence of the enduring relationship between the EU, France, and Nigeria. He stressed the importance of building robust and efficient health and social welfare systems that ensure prosperity for all.
“Let’s combine the strength of our EU–Nigeria partnership with the dynamism of our industries on both sides to achieve a common goal — making Nigerian healthcare life-saving, sustainable, and accessible for all,” he said, expressing optimism that the initiative would extend across West Africa.
Similarly, France’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, reaffirmed France’s commitment through the Global Health Strategy, guided by the principles of equity, solidarity, and human dignity. He commended the shared values underpinning the collaboration and the collective drive to improve health systems and empower communities.
The Director-General of NIPRD, Dr Obi Adigwe, highlighted the importance of such partnerships in achieving self-sufficiency in medicines and vaccines. He noted that the project would facilitate socioeconomic development, job creation, capacity building, technology transfer, and revenue generation.
Through laboratory modernisation, workforce training, and technology transfer, the QUALIMED initiative is expected to enhance regulatory compliance, promote gender equity in biomanufacturing, and strengthen Nigeria’s integration into global pharmaceutical innovation networks.
The expected outcomes include upgraded NIPRD laboratories meeting international standards, improved Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance, and a stronger foundation for clinical research collaboration across Africa.