The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) is set to kick-start the implementation of an €18 million grant from the European Union (EU), aimed at transforming Nigeria’s vaccine landscape.
Speaking in Abuja, NIPRD Director-General, Dr Obi Adigwe, described the grant as a “game-changer” for the country’s vaccine independence.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the funding supports Nigeria’s 10-year plan (2024–2034) to build a self-reliant vaccine ecosystem through research, development, and local production.
While recalling the challenges Nigeria faced during the COVID-19 period, he said, “We also witnessed vaccine nationalism, where countries hoarded vaccines despite preaching equity and justice. That experience underscored the urgent need to build local capacity for vaccine research and production.”
He criticised the vaccine hoarding seen during the pandemic, calling it a wake-up call for the continent to prioritise health sovereignty. The EU grant, he noted, is the largest vaccine-related support received by any African nation to date.
The comprehensive roadmap funded by the grant outlines strategies for vaccine R&D, clinical trials, infrastructure upgrades, technology transfer, and workforce development.
Key stakeholders—including government ministries, academia, international partners, and the private sector—collaborated on its design.
According to Adigwe, the plan has secured ministerial backing and formal approval from the EU. Implementation has commenced, with teams already deployed to partner agencies like United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
He expressed confidence that within the next decade, Nigeria could be home to multiple vaccine manufacturers, contributing not just to national health security, but also to economic growth and regional resilience.
