In a major move to revamp Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry, the Federal Government has partnered with Empower School of Health, Geneva (Empower Swiss), to establish a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Training Academy in Nigeria.
The collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed under the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), is designed to bridge the existing talent gap in the sector and support Nigeria’s ambitious goals of producing 70% of its pharmaceuticals by 2030 and 60% of vaccines by 2040.
Speaking at the signing event, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, emphasized the importance of building skilled manpower alongside physical infrastructure. “Whatever it is you need to manufacture, you also need the talent—and the right talent,” Pate said.
According to a statement posted by PVAC, many Nigerian graduates lack the hands-on industry experience required for pharmaceutical manufacturing, primarily due to the country’s underdeveloped local production capacity. Empower Swiss, with experience across more than 40 countries, is expected to bring international best practices and a phased, sustainable training approach to the academy.
The initiative will focus on empowering youth, increasing local production, and strengthening both Nigeria’s healthcare system and economic resilience.
In December 2024, Pate revealed that over 70 new healthcare manufacturing companies are working on 22 large-scale projects in Nigeria. Additionally, more than 10 healthcare value chain verticals have been established in-country—milestones that align with President Bola Tinubu’s broader vision of transforming the health sector from a consumption-focused to a job-creating, value-driven ecosystem.
PVAC, launched in October 2023 by President Tinubu, is a flagship program aimed at catalyzing investment in healthcare manufacturing and services. It has already inspired five development finance institutions to collaborate on dedicated financing platforms for the sector.
The training academy is expected to serve as a cornerstone for Nigeria’s efforts to enhance pharmaceutical self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imports, all while creating jobs and fostering local expertise.
