Ebonyi State, NAIP and Bloom perform Groundbreaking of Nigeria’s first Pharmaceutical Park

The Ebonyi State Government in partnership with the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) and Bloom Public Health on the 3^rd of February, 2021 performed the groundbreaking ceremony and foundation laying of the first Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Park in Nigeria (Pharmacity).

The 100 hectares Pharmaceutical Manufacturing park in Ezillo, Ebonyi State will be a compact modern-day estate bringing together pharmaceutical companies of various sizes, service providers, and companies providing support services to co-locate and share infrastructure, it promises to serve as a means to increase Nigeria’s medicine and health product manufacturing capacity. 

During the groundbreaking ceremony, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi stated that Ebonyi is very interested in industrialization and to have growth similar to the developed countries in Nigeria. There is no reason why we cannot have a pharmaceutical manufacturing park in Nigeria, and we hope this will be a footprint for others to learn from.

Also speaking at the event, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Mazi (Pharm.) Sam Ohuabunwa voiced his excitement on the groundbreaking of the first pharmaceutical manufacturing park in Nigeria. He then pledged the commitment of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria to ensuring the actualization of the project.

In his remarks, the CEO of Bloom Public Health, Prof. Chimezie Anyakora, reiterated the commitment of Bloom Public Health and all the stakeholders of the pharmaceutical manufacturing park to ensuring the completion of the park. He also identified the economic and health implications to the country and the people of Ebonyi state. He stated that the park will support Nigeria in its journey to reach its full pharmaceutical potential while maintaining strict adherence to international standards.

The National Chairman of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP), Pharm. Ignatius Anukwu expressed his joy at the events of the groundbreaking ceremony. He stated that the negotiations took over one year of negotiations to materialize.

The pharmaceutical manufacturing park stakeholders, in 2020 had envisioned that the colocation of various pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, and support services in a pharmaceutical park will reduce the cost of production of medicine and health products leading to better profit margins. It will also produce premium grade health products that are easily accessible and affordable for the population. And also create a more resilient medicine supply chain that is less vulnerable to external shocks and other eventualities, thus ensuring medicine security in Nigeria.

The Bloom Public Health management believes this is a major step in strengthening Nigeria’s health system.