The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, assured the German-based mRNA vaccine manufacturer, BioNTech, of Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate toward the local production of the vaccines.
Buhari also said he looks forward to receiving a commitment from the company to expand collaboration to achieve Nigeria’s goal of developing capacities for research, development and manufacturing.
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari stated this when he met with the Executive Chairman of KENUP Foundation and representative of the CEO of BioNTech, the mRNA vaccine patent holder, in Africa, Mr. Holm Keller, at the State House, Abuja.
The statement is titled ‘mRNA vaccine production: President Buhari welcomes exploratory interactions between Nigerian scientists, BioNTech.’
Buhari who said that his regime invests “significantly in health, education, in Research and Development” promised to encourage discovery and partnership in joint ventures, such as with a private pharmaceutical company to begin routine vaccines manufacturing in-country.
According to him, ‘‘We are impressed with the numerous possibilities said to be around the mRNA technology and hence seek cooperation with well-intentioned organisations, including yours, to build a strong bilateral partnership with your company and your affiliate bodies, as science gets closer to understanding the possibilities around successful mRNA technology.
‘‘We believe the mRNA technology will help solve other public health challenges too, especially those peculiar to our tropical environment.
‘‘As you conduct exploratory interactions with our scientists in the biomedical field and officials of the Ministry of Health, I look forward to receiving a commitment to expand collaboration to achieve our goal of developing capacities for Research & Development and manufacturing.’’
Recounting the vast inequalities in access to COVID-19 vaccines at the peak of the pandemic, Buhari said Nigeria and many middle-income countries now appreciate the need for global decentralisation and diversification of manufacturing capacity of items critical for public health security.
He also highlighted several investment opportunities and potentials in the country, urging the Foundation and other prospective investors to pay ‘‘special attention’’ to Africa’s most populous country.
‘‘KENUP Foundation will find in Nigeria, a suitable research & development ecosystem, in terms of human resource expertise and endemic, deadly disease challenges that require research to help to end with new vaccines.
‘‘Our reputable scientific community has the capacity to engage with you meaningfully in all caliber of research and to add value to your joint effort.
‘‘Nigeria has a long tradition in vaccine manufacturing and laboratories for microbiological research, both in private and public facilities, and also for human and veterinary vaccine research, established over 80 years ago.
“You will find in Nigeria, biosafety Level 3 laboratories and ongoing initiatives with trusted partners to develop Level 4 capacity too. We invest significantly in health, education, in Research and Development and encourage discovery and partnership in joint ventures, such as with a private pharmaceutical company to begin routine vaccines manufacturing in-country,” Buhari said.
Buhari, who described Nigeria as the preferred destination for ECOWAS citizens in search of markets, added that Biovaccines Nigeria Limited, a Public Private Partnership company and other private companies are at varying stages of acquiring capacities for local manufacturing of vaccines.
Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said Buhari has “passion for public health security, hence your receiving this team” which he added was around to explore possibilities of collaboration in manufacture of new vaccines
Keller described his organisation as a public-benefit foundation dedicated to vaccine equity through manufacturing schemes suitable to the country.
“We are working on malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, monkeypox, and other vaccines, to be manufactured in Africa,” he said.
Keller added that there was also the plan to find African personalized treatment for cancer, which is only available to the richest of the rich in some parts of the world.
