Nigeria has taken a significant step toward local pharmaceutical manufacturing with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Country’s Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), Brazil’s largest pharmaceutical company EMS S.A., and Nigerian firm Oaks Medical Limited.
The agreement was witnessed by Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate on November 25, 2025, and it establishes the framework for “Project Oaks,” a WHO GMP-compliant pharmaceutical manufacturing facility expected to create over 1,200 skilled jobs and serve more than 30 million Nigerians.
What the Partnership Entails
The collaboration centers on establishing a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility and life sciences innovation hub in Nigeria.
EMS S.A., which operates six industrial plants across Brazil and Serbia and has presence in over 30 countries, brings decades of expertise in pharmaceutical production to the partnership.
The Brazilian company has pioneered several industry firsts, including becoming the first Brazilian laboratory to export medicines to Europe and produce generic drugs domestically.
The partnership prioritizes four key areas:
- Technology transfer from Brazilian partners to Nigerian manufacturers,
- Capacity building for Nigerian pharmaceutical scientists and technicians,
- Upgrading and expansion of local production facilities, and
- Strengthening regulatory and industrial systems.
The initiative follows President Bola Tinubu’s August 2025 visit to Brazil, where both leaders emphasized the need for deeper cooperation in drug development and vaccine production.
The Manufacturing Vision
Project Oaks will establish a WHO Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant facility designed to produce affordable, high-quality essential medicines and vaccines. The facility aims to manufacture drugs that meet international standards, positioning Nigeria not just as a self-sufficient producer but as a competitive exporter under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Beyond finished pharmaceutical products, the partnership includes plans for local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients. The facility will also serve as a training ground for young Nigerians, expanding local expertise in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation.
Nigeria’s Current Pharmaceutical Landscape
Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry currently produces less than 40 percent of national drug needs, with approximately 70 percent of medications consumed in the country being imported, primarily from China and India. This heavy import dependency exposes the country to supply chain vulnerabilities, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite persistent challenges, the industry has shown resilience with a remarkable 79.4% revenue increase between 2018 and 2023.
Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market is valued at approximately $4.5 billion and is growing at 9% annually, driven by the country’s rapidly expanding population of over 200 million people and increasing health awareness.
The industry has also achieved notable milestones in recent times, such as the Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited which recently became the first manufacturer in Nigeria and West Africa to receive WHO prequalification for two essential maternal and child health medicines.
Emzor Pharmaceuticals also recently announced plans to build a $23 million Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) facility in Sagamu, Ogun State, to produce antimalarial components locally.
This facility, the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa, aims to reduce the continent’s reliance on imported drugs. In addition to antimalarials, the company is also involved in producing and will continue to develop misoprostol, an essential medicine for maternal health, and currently is the sole African-based producer of this drug on the continent.
Strategic Implications
By leveraging Brazil’s proven pharmaceutical expertise and Nigeria’s large domestic market, the collaboration offers a pragmatic pathway to building sustainable manufacturing capacity.
The success of “Project Oaks” will depend on sustained government support beyond the initial signing ceremony, including follow-through on promised regulatory reforms, infrastructure investments, and market incentives.
For Nigeria, success in this partnership could serve as a model for similar collaborations with other pharmaceutical-producing nations.
The partnership also aligns with broader continental goals under the AfCFTA framework, positioning Nigeria as a potential pharmaceutical hub for West Africa and the wider African market.
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