President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja welcomed the exploratory interactions between Nigerian biomedical scientists, officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and BioNTech company, to support the production of messenger RNA vaccines in Nigeria.
The President met with Mr. Holm Keller, the Executive
Chairman of KENUP Foundation and representative of the CEO of BioNTech, the
mRNA vaccine patent holder, in Africa.
The President in a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu,
expressed confidence that the interactions between the parties would be
productive, leading to collaborations at many levels, from clinical trials to
research and development of new vaccines and eventually support vaccine
manufacturing facilities in the country.
‘‘We are impressed with the numerous possibilities said to
be around the mRNA technology and hence seek cooperation with well-intentioned
organizations, 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, President Buhari said Nigeria and many
middle-income countries now appreciate the need for global decentralization and
diversification of manufacturing capacity of items critical for public health
security.
The President also used the occasion to highlight the many
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 have a vibrant Health Ethics Research Council and our
WHO Maturity Level 3 certified Regulatory body, National Agency for Food and
Drug Administration and Control regulates vaccines, and have started the
process to attain Maturity Level Four, that makes pharmaceutical products made
in Nigeria, including vaccines, marketable abroad.
‘‘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.’’
President Buhari, who described Nigeria as the gateway to
West African business and commerce, and 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 President 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.
Mr Holm Keller described his organization as a
public-benefit foundation dedicated to innovation in public health.
He said he was thrilled to learn of the great work President Buhari and his administration has
done for Nigeria, “and the aim of our mission is to establish research
partnerships, which would benefit Nigeria and Africa.
“We want to contribute to vaccine equity through
manufacturing scheme suitable to the country. We are working on malaria,
tuberculosis, HIV, monkeypox, and other vaccines, to be manufactured in
Africa.”
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.
“We want to change that, and are working on therapeutic
vaccines that can stop the growth of tumors. We want it to be available
globally, and not just in wealthy countries. We want to explore opportunities
in this domain, and support your good work.”
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