NBRDA DG Urges Vaccine Research Collaboration

The Director-General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, has emphasised the need for collaborative efforts among institutions involved in vaccine research. During a recent address, he highlighted the importance of synergy to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of vaccine development processes.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday, Mustapha stated that since vaccine technology was so important in Nigeria, collaboration was necessary.

He claimed that while some academic institutions and research centres were making an effort to study vaccine manufacture, adequate coordination would be ensured by uniting under a single roof.

He claims that as professionals from both inside and outside the nation will be chosen to make an influence, coordination is a necessary and powerful force that will propel vaccine development.

“We have to take this seriously and make sure that it is our number one priority,’’ he said.

The head of the NBRDA emphasised that Nigeria needs to have procedures and a system in place that would protect the public’s health while taking precautions against a variety of diseases.

“We don’t need to wait until somebody comes to do it for us; we should learn from countries like China and India, who have gone far by producing their own drugs and vaccines.

“So, if we are really keen in terms of production of vaccines in this country, vaccine research institutions must come together,’’  he said.

According to the director-general, the agency has made significant progress in producing vaccines, and as it is a biotechnology agency, it is its duty to oversee all vaccine production initiatives in the nation.

Mustapha stated that the agency had made numerous proposals to guarantee the project’s success because of the significance of vaccination technology to the nation.

According to him, the NBRDA was collaborating with interested parties to develop a national vaccine manufacturing strategy and determine the best course of action.

Mustapha said the agency was ready to move forward with this because it was part of their 2025 objective.