The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) has announced that the implementation of the €18 million grant from the European Union (EU) to support vaccine research in Nigeria will commence soon.
Director-General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, disclosed this in an interview with the Newsman on Wednesday in Abuja.
In 2024, the EU and the Nigerian government signed a collaborative agreement worth €18 million aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s vaccine research and development ecosystem. The grant supports the implementation of Nigeria’s 10-year National Plan for Vaccine Research, Development, and Local Production (2024–2034).
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The strategic blueprint seeks to strengthen vaccine sovereignty, boost research capabilities, and reduce the country’s dependence on imported vaccines.
Dr. Adigwe described the grant as a significant step toward reversing Africa’s vaccine dependency, which was glaring during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During COVID, it was shameful that the whole of Africa depended on the Global North and Asia for vaccines,” 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 noted that the EU grant, which he described as the largest vaccine-related funding awarded so far in Africa, was secured to address this gap.
According to him, the grant enabled the development of a comprehensive vaccine roadmap under NIPRD’s leadership, in collaboration with key ministries, international development partners, academia, and the private sector.
The roadmap outlines a phased strategy covering vaccine research, development, clinical trials, technology transfer, infrastructure expansion, regulatory capacity building, and large-scale local manufacturing. It also includes provisions for training and retaining skilled biopharmaceutical professionals to drive the envisioned ecosystem.
Adigwe said the roadmap has been endorsed by both the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and the Minister of State for Health, following which the EU formally approved the grant.
“Implementation is set to begin. We have already deployed a team to UNICEF, one of the grant’s implementing partners, and we expect to announce major developments soon,” he added.
He emphasized that NIPRD is leveraging its mandate to build sustainable health security systems through pharmaceutical innovation, and projected that within the next decade, Nigeria could have three to four companies manufacturing vaccines locally.
“We are open to sharing the vaccine roadmap with stakeholders and partners committed to this critical journey towards vaccine self-sufficiency,” he stated.
“Ultimately, our goal is to ensure no Nigerian is left behind in accessing lifesaving vaccines.”
Adigwe stressed that the grant represents more than just research support—it underscores national security, economic resilience, and health equity.
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader health sector reform agenda, which prioritises local production, research advancement, and improved pandemic preparedness.