President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria is ready to become a global hub for sustainable manufacturing and distribution of vaccine and biological pharmaceuticals to support initiatives to keep all of mankind safe.
He said this yesterday in Seoul while addressing the World Bio Summit 2022 jointly convened by the government of South Korea and the World Health Organisation to discuss the future of vaccines and Bio-Health across the globe.
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He also called for the speedy take-off of local production of mRNA vaccines, after the WHO selected Nigeria as one of six African countries to receive technology needed to produce the vaccines.
Buhari promised commitment to global response to known or emerging pathogens, including the global vaccine assurance ecosystem and equitable access for all.
He said Nigeria would continue to explore bilateral, multilateral and other opportunities for cutting-edge technology as a centre of excellence for vaccine manufacturing and distribution.
“As the mRNA technology allows science to shift attention to yet unknown disease threats, we see opportunities to address diseases that have plagued sub-Saharan Africa and third world countries for centuries.
“We believe biomedical scientists can dream of ending the scourge of Malaria, Ebola, Lassa fever and various endemic neglected tropical diseases through development and manufacture of efficacious and affordable vaccines and therapeutics.
“Nigeria invites partners ready to support efforts towards the entire value chain of vaccine technology development in our continent, to consider working with us in Nigeria,” he said.
Buhari said Nigeria was ready and able to offer itself for this initiative, due to its strategic geographical location, strength of economy and market size derived from a population of over 214 million people.
On Nigeria’s quest to revive local vaccine production, he recounted that the Federal Government of Nigeria had ratified a Joint Venture Agreement with a leading Nigerian Pharma Company for a Public Private Enterprise.
