The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has reaffirmed its drive to make Nigeria a continental leader in healthcare manufacturing, after a delegation of about 85 global health experts from Harvard University’s Science of Defeating Malaria Programme toured its Abuja biotechnologies factory and offered glowing commendations.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr Khalil Halilu, hosted the delegation at a closing dinner at the weekend, capping a week-long programme that ran from June 7 to 13.
The gathering followed a visit by the scientists, policymakers, and public health professionals to the NASENI-TROMENT Biotechnologies Factory, where participants described the facility as a meaningful advance in Africa’s fight against malaria and other infectious diseases.
The delegation was led by Professor Dyann F. Wirth of Harvard University.
Speaking at the dinner, Halilu said the Harvard team’s recognition confirmed the thinking behind the factory, which was established 18 months ago with the goal of reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported diagnostic kits.
He said the plant was designed to produce up to 600 million diagnostic kits per year -enough to cover 80 percent of the nation’s testing needs, while also opening export opportunities to other African nations and global markets.
The factory produces rapid diagnostic tests and in-vitro diagnostic products sold under N-ChekUP brand, covering a range of conditions including malaria, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, typhoid, syphilis, COVID-19, pregnancy and blood glucose monitoring.
Halilu said the project was within NASENI’s mandate of applying science, technology, and innovation national development challenges, job creation, industrial capacity-building.
He thanked Professor Wirth and her colleagues for their recognition and pledged the agency’s continued commitment to solutions that improve lives and cement Nigeria’s standing as a healthcare manufacturing hub on the continent.
The Harvard-led Science of Defeating Malaria Programme convened experts from across the world to advance strategies for eliminating malaria and strengthening public health systems globally.
