Thousands of delegates gathered in Nigeria at the 2025 Pharmaceutical Industry Growth and Investment Summit to confront long-standing challenges in the country’s healthcare sector.
The event brought together major stakeholders who called for bold investments, homegrown solutions, and deeper collaboration to revamp Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities.
The summit, hosted by PBR Life Sciences, featured pharmaceutical CEOs, financial experts, government officials, and development institutions. They all shared a common message: Nigeria must stop depending on imported medicines and instead grow its own production capacity to meet national and regional demand.
A key point raised was the lack of scalable manufacturing structures. Former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Ahmed Yakasai, emphasized the need for financial models that support large-scale operations. He also noted that mergers could be a game-changer, helping companies expand beyond basic drug formulations and into areas like vaccine production and injectables—products that are currently in short supply locally.
Yakasai called for Nigeria to fully engage with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, positioning itself as a regional pharmaceutical hub not just for West Africa but for the entire continent. He stressed that a strong local industry could boost exports and improve access to essential medicines across Africa.
Industry leaders also expressed concern about the sector’s slow development compared to other industries like telecommunications and oil and gas. Sammy Ogunjimi, CEO of Codix Group, called on Nigerian entrepreneurs to take the lead, saying that sustainable change would not come from abroad. He urged local investors to build capacity, pursue technology transfer, and understand the technical side of pharmaceutical production.
PBR Life Sciences CEO Ayodeji Alaran pointed out that Nigeria still imports around 70 percent of its medicines. He warned that this dependence exposes the country to economic shocks, supply chain disruptions, and rising costs. With Nigeria’s population expected to exceed 377 million by 2050, and its pharma market forecasted to grow to $1.01 billion by 2028, he said the time to act is now.
Alaran urged the private sector to step forward with innovation, funding, and partnerships. He said a strong pharmaceutical base would not only secure medicine supply but also create jobs and boost the economy. For him, the choice is simple—either invest in local manufacturing now or risk continued instability in the country’s healthcare system.
With discussions focused on overcoming supply chain weaknesses and creating a self-sufficient pharma sector, the summit made one thing clear: Nigeria’s healthcare future depends on immediate, bold action from both public and private sectors. The path forward lies in building reliable, local systems that reduce reliance on imports and ensure access to essential medicines for all Nigerians.