By Chioma Obinna

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, has called for a strategic partnership between Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry and academic institutions to enhance local development of medicines and vaccines, thereby reducing reliance on imports.

Delivering the 38th Prof Victor Olufemi Marquis Memorial Lecture at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Adeyeye described President Bola Tinubu’s ban on the importation of products that are locally available as a “timely elixir” for strengthening indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturing.
In her lecture titled: “Industry, Regulatory, and Academia: The Future of Pharmaceutical Research and Development in Nigeria is Now,” the NAFDAC boss urged universities to leverage their knowledge and technology capabilities to collaborate with industry for meaningful Research and Development (R\&D) outcomes.

“Universities are well-positioned to develop skills, transfer knowledge, and drive technology innovation,” she said. “An academia–industry linkage is essential for national survival. It provides a formal platform for joint planning and the implementation of mutually beneficial projects.”

Adeyeye, who revealed that NAFDAC has existing partnerships with several Nigerian universities, emphasized the benefit of such collaborations in providing experiential learning opportunities for students and strengthening the local manufacturing ecosystem.

Describing the academia-industry relationship as the “lifeblood of economic growth,” she noted that increased collaboration would lead to improved competitiveness, innovation, and employment.

“When economic growth expands through industrial development, unemployment is reduced, GDP increases, and quality of life improves,” she stated.

According to the Director-General, Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector has witnessed significant progress in the past seven years, thanks to increasing demand, regulatory reform, and initiatives like President Tinubu’s 2024 Executive Order.

She cited the agency’s “Five Plus Five” Regulatory Directive as a game-changer.

“NAFDAC conducted a study which showed that the top five imported pharmaceutical products are the same as those produced locally,” she said. “It made no sense to keep importing them. So, we instituted the Five Plus Five policy. After the first five years of registration, importers have one last five-year cycle after which the product must be manufactured locally.”

She revealed that the policy has spurred the establishment or rebirth of about 30 per cent of local pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.

To further bridge the gap between innovation and industry, Prof Adeyeye announced plans to initiate a pilot R\&D collaboration between select universities and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Under the programme, manufacturers will select academic partners to work on specific product development based on their operational needs.

“All collaborations will be governed by legally binding confidentiality agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs),” she noted, adding that she would supervise the initiative from a distance to avoid any conflict of interest when regulatory approvals are due.

The programme will also involve the Nigeria Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA), whose CEO, she said, is actively engaged in the National Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA).

“The faculty selection process will be thorough, narrowing participation to one or two researchers per university individuals with the right experience to translate research into viable pharmaceutical products,” Adeyeye stated.

She cited a practical example: “A company might identify a soon-to-expire patent and work with a university to reformulate it into a sustained-release version, improving patient compliance and market value.”

She also emphasized the potential for collaboration in clinical trials, bioequivalence studies, vaccine development for diseases like Lassa fever, and technology transfer initiatives, such as local vaccine “fill and finish” operations.

“R\&D is not a luxury,” she declared. “It is a necessity for national health security and economic growth.”

Adeyeye stressed that Nigeria must wean itself off foreign donations and handouts in the health sector.

“We will always import some drugs, yes, but we must stop being addicted to donations. God has given us immense talent and it’s being underutilized,” she said.

The NAFDAC DG underscored the pivotal role of regulatory agencies in enabling local pharmaceutical innovation, asserting that the country is on the path to becoming self-sufficient.

“NAFDAC’s role is crucial in enabling this transformation. The time to build a robust R\&D system for a healthier Nigeria is now.”
She reiterated: “We have the partnerships. We have the regulatory framework. What we need now is focused collaboration to unlock Nigeria’s R\&D capabilities.”