Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has entered into a strategic partnership with AMA Pharmaceutical Company to accelerate local drug production and support Nigeria’s drive for pharmaceutical self-reliance.
The collaboration will also strengthen the commercialisation of the university’s research outputs and deepen ties between academia and the pharmaceutical industry.
The Director of ABU’s Public Affairs Directorate, Auwalu Umar, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Zaria.
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Umar said the partnership would enhance the development and manufacture of high-quality pharmaceutical products in the country.
He described AMA-MED as the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Northern Nigeria, based in Kaduna, and noted its strong track record in producing life-saving intravenous fluids using advanced Automated Form-Fill-Seal (AFFS) technology.
According to Umar, the partnership aligns with the Federal Government’s policy direction following the Executive Order signed by President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises local sourcing of raw materials for pharmaceutical production.
“This collaboration will significantly lower production costs, boost local manufacturing capacity, and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare value chain,” he said.
He explained that discussions began during a visit by the Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, to the company’s facilities in Kaduna to explore Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) placement opportunities for ABU students.
Umar added that the partnership will enable the commercialisation of research outputs from ABU’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and related departments, ensuring academic research delivers tangible economic and societal benefits.
The collaboration will also provide students with hands-on industrial training, improve employability, and promote knowledge exchange between researchers and industry experts.
Umar said a return visit by the Founder of AMA Pharmaceutical Company, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, further strengthened the framework for sustained collaboration and long-term impact.
