The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a €10.2 million partnership agreement with the European Union (EU) and France to strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and expand access to quality medicines and vaccines.
The collaboration, established under the EU’s Global Gateway Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies (MAV+) Initiative, will run from 2025 to 2028. It includes €10 million in funding from the EU and an additional €200,000 co-financing from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Codenamed “Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (Qualimeds Nigeria),” the initiative aims to boost Nigeria’s local production of high-quality medicines, promote innovation, and improve access to essential health technologies.
The project will also enhance the capacity of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) to serve as a regional reference centre for quality control, bioequivalence, and stability studies — while fostering collaboration with Rwanda and Senegal.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, held during the Nigeria–EU Health Investment Forum in Abuja, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described the agreement as a testament to the enduring partnership between the EU, France, and Nigeria.
He said the initiative would help build resilient health systems capable of delivering sustainable and inclusive healthcare.
“Let us combine the strength of our EU–Nigeria and EU–ECOWAS partnerships with the dynamism of our industries to make healthcare in Nigeria more accessible, affordable, and life-saving — while creating jobs and opportunities,” Mignot said.
In his remarks, France’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, reaffirmed France’s commitment to the partnership, describing it as part of the Team Europe initiative and a reflection of shared values rooted in equity, solidarity, and human dignity.
“I am proud that France, through the French Development Agency, is contributing to the implementation of the Qualimeds Nigeria project,” Fonbaustier said. “It underscores our joint resolve to strengthen health systems, promote equity, and empower communities through better access to essential health products and services.”
The Director-General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, said the project represents a major step toward improving Nigeria’s health security and industrial growth.
“We want to ensure that our people have access to high-quality healthcare while driving socioeconomic development, job creation, capacity building, technology transfer, and revenue generation,” Adigwe stated.
Through technology transfer, laboratory upgrades, and workforce development, the partnership is expected to increase Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in medicines and vaccines, improve regulatory compliance, and promote gender equality in the pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing sectors.
Expected outcomes include upgraded NIPRD laboratories that meet international standards, greater Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance, stronger clinical research networks, and deeper integration of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry into global innovation systems.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), hailed the agreement as transformative.
He said the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader vision of positioning healthcare as a key driver of economic growth and industrialisation.
“Today, we are signing new commitments under the MAV+ initiative to expand vaccine and health product manufacturing,” Mukhtar said. “Our goal is to ensure every Nigerian, regardless of location or status, can access affordable, quality healthcare. The EU and its member states have been steadfast partners in helping us achieve this vision.”
