Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and AMA Pharmaceutical Company Limited (AMA-MED) have concluded plans to establish a strategic partnership aimed at drug development and the commercialisation of research outputs, as part of efforts to strengthen local pharmaceutical production in Nigeria.
AMA-MED, the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Northern Nigeria, is based in Kaduna and specialises in the production of high-quality lifesaving intravenous fluids.
Since its establishment in 2019, the company has remained at the forefront of medical manufacturing, deploying advanced technology to improve healthcare delivery.
The proposed collaboration is coming on the heels of the Executive Order signed last year by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to promote local sourcing of raw materials for pharmaceutical production.
Stakeholders believe the partnership will boost domestic manufacturing capacity, reduce production costs and lessen Nigeria’s dependence on imported healthcare products.
The move towards collaboration began when the Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, paid a visit to AMA-MED’s manufacturing facility in Kaduna, where discussions centred on Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) placements for students of the university.
During the visit, the Vice-Chancellor was impressed by the company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which operates with advanced Automated Form-Fill-Seal (AFFS) technology.
Prof. Ahmed also commended the company’s commitment to continuous innovation and quality assurance, describing it as a strong platform for academic-industry collaboration.
Following a tour of the facility, both parties explored opportunities for joint engagement in various aspects of pharmaceutical development, including drug formulation, production processes and quality control.
Central to the proposed partnership is the commercialisation of research outputs from ABU’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and other related departments.
It is envisaged that the collaboration will help bridge the long-standing gap between academic research and industrial application, ensuring that university-based innovations translate into market-ready healthcare products.
The process was further strengthened by a return visit to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, by the Founder of AMA Pharmaceutical Company, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa.
During the visit, discussions focused on aligning the university’s research strengths with the company’s manufacturing capacity to enhance competitiveness within Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.
Expressing optimism about the initiative, Prof. Ahmed said the university is prioritising partnerships with industry players as part of its broader strategy to commercialise research outputs and drive national development.
He noted that such collaborations would not only benefit the university and industry but also contribute significantly to healthcare delivery in the country.
The Vice-Chancellor added that ABU’s recent engagements with international institutions, including the University of Glasgow and the University of Salford in the United Kingdom, have opened new windows for research collaboration and industry linkages, which could further strengthen the proposed partnership with AMA-MED.
