Univercells, a global leader in life sciences, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This marks a significant step in advancing Nigeria’s biopharmaceutical ecosystem and enhancing local manufacturing capabilities.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Muhammad Ali Pate, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Nigeria, and Dr. Muhktar Abdu, the senior advisor to the president and Coordinator to Presidential Initiative for Unlocking Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC). The event, hosted by Univercells CEO Hugues Bultot, was attended by key stakeholders including José Castillo, CEO of Quantoom Biosciences and CTO of Univercells, and Ms. Hala Audi, CEO of Unizima.
Under the leadership of Minister Muhammad Ali Pate, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has actively engaged with domestic and international partners to foster biotech capabilities, emphasizing job creation in the health and pharmaceutical sectors. The collaboration aims to improve Nigeria’s healthcare landscape by leveraging biotechnology to establish infrastructure for local research, development, and manufacturing of medicines for human and animal health. This partnership highlights a shared commitment to saving lives and ensuring affordable healthcare for Nigerians.
In specific terms, the collaboration will focus on several key areas, including conducting regional needs assessments, upskilling the local workforce, transferring mRNA technologies, and collaborating on research, development, and manufacturing of public health products such as the Lassa Fever Vaccine. Additionally, access to funding will be facilitated to support the healthcare value chain.
The initiative aligns with the objectives of the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), spearheaded by President Tinubu. This initiative aims at bolstering domestic production of medicines, vaccines, and biologics.
Univercells’ CEO Hugues Bultot expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “Univercells is excited about this collaboration with the Nigerian authorities, which will help the country develop and produce its own vaccines and biotherapeutics, leading to a more resilient health system.” Echoing this sentiment, Muhammad Ali Pate emphasized the significance of the partnership in Nigeria’s journey towards self-sufficiency in vaccine and biologic production.
Univercells, headquartered in Jumet, Belgium, is dedicated to making biologics accessible globally. Supported by a network of investors including the European Investment Bank and Global Health Investment Fund, Univercells deploys innovative solutions to reduce costs and meet the needs of the entire health value chain.
The agreement between Univercells and the Nigerian Government signifies progress in guaranteeing healthcare access for all Nigerians. It signals a new era in the nation’s healthcare landscape.
In partnership with the Nigerian government, Univercells is committed to improving healthcare accessibility and affordability. This aims to benefit not only Nigeria but also communities worldwide.
