The European Union (EU) and France have announced a joint €10.2 million investment to strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, in what officials describe as a milestone for the country’s health sovereignty and industrial advancement.
The investment, unveiled in Abuja under the Global Gateway’s Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies (MAV+) Initiative, will finance the Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (Qualimeds Nigeria) project, a 44-month programme designed to modernise local production, enhance medicine quality, and expand access to essential health technologies.
According to the agreement, €10 million will be contributed by the EU, with an additional €200,000 co-financing from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The project will run from 2025 to 2028 and will be implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), and other local partners.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot, said the initiative reflects the EU’s long-term commitment to Africa’s health resilience.
"This partnership proves the strength of the EU-Nigeria and EU-ECOWAS relationships. By combining our resources, expertise, and innovation, we can make healthcare in Nigeria life-saving, sustainable, and accessible for all, while creating jobs and opportunities," he said.
Similarly, France’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Marc Fonbaustier, said the project aligns with France’s Global Health Strategy built on equity, solidarity, and human dignity.
"Through the French Development Agency, France is proud to support Qualimeds Nigeria. It embodies our shared values and collective commitment to strengthen health systems and empower communities through better access to essential medicines," he said.
Under the Qualimeds Nigeria scheme, NIPRD will be reinforced as a regional centre of excellence in pharmaceutical research, with a focus on bioequivalence testing, stability studies, and quality control.
The project will also deepen collaboration with peer institutions in Rwanda and Senegal, positioning Nigeria as a hub for pharmaceutical innovation in West Africa.
NIPRD Director-General, Dr Obi Adigwe, described the initiative as a "transformative opportunity" for Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem.
"Beyond healthcare access, this partnership will catalyse socio-economic growth through job creation, capacity building, technology transfer, and revenue generation," he said.
The project also supports the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), which aims to make healthcare a key driver of economic diversification.
PVAC National Coordinator, Dr Abdu Mukhtar, said the partnership marks a turning point in efforts to localise health production.
"The MAV+ initiative ensures that every Nigerian can access affordable, quality healthcare. Such transformation depends on strong partnerships, and this commitment from the EU and France signals that shared purpose," he said.
When fully implemented, Qualimeds Nigeria is expected to deliver upgraded laboratories that meet international standards, stronger clinical research networks, improved Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance, and greater integration of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector into global innovation systems.
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