Under Professor Mojisola Adeyeye’s leadership, NAFDAC is transforming Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector, boosting local drug manufacturing, attracting investment, and earning global recognition.
By Joy Onu
The commissioning of Sam Pharmaceuticals Limited’s new manufacturing facility in Lagos has become more than a corporate milestone; it is a testament to the transformative leadership of Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Industry leaders and stakeholders hailed the facility as a reflection of Adeyeye’s relentless efforts to strengthen local drug manufacturing and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines. Central to this progress is her “5+5 policy,” which encourages foreign pharmaceutical companies to either establish local production or partner with Nigerian firms, fostering investment and self-reliance.
The policy has already delivered tangible results, with local pharmaceutical production rising from 30% to nearly 50%, signaling growing confidence among investors and manufacturers. Beyond boosting domestic production, Adeyeye has elevated Nigeria’s regulatory standing globally. Under her leadership, NAFDAC achieved Maturity Level 3 (ML3) in the World Health Organization Global Benchmarking Programme, a rating that places Nigeria among the few countries with fully functional and internationally respected regulatory authorities.
At the commissioning event, Professor Adeyeye highlighted the importance of collaboration between regulators and manufacturers. She stated:
“The growth we are seeing in local pharmaceutical manufacturing is a result of deliberate policies and partnerships. NAFDAC remains committed to creating an enabling environment where local production thrives, ensuring safe, effective, and affordable medicines for Nigerians.”
This recognition strengthens Nigeria’s capacity to manufacture vaccines and advanced pharmaceutical products locally, a critical step toward national health security. The commissioning of Sam Pharmaceuticals’ facility illustrates the tangible impact of Adeyeye’s policies on industrial growth, investment, and healthcare access.
As more manufacturing plants emerge nationwide, Adeyeye’s reforms are seen as laying the foundation for a self-reliant, globally competitive pharmaceutical sector. Her leadership is redefining NAFDAC from a conventional regulatory body into a catalyst for industrial development, ensuring safer, more affordable medicines for millions of Nigerians.
For those present at the Lagos commissioning, the message was clear: Nigeria’s pharmaceutical revolution is no longer just policy talk, it is now a reality, driven by the vision and transformative leadership of Professor Mojisola Adeyeye.
