The North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has partnered with Innovative Biotech Ltd. to strengthen vaccine access, promote local manufacturing, and enhance public health resilience across Nigeria’s North Central region through collaborative and strategic initiatives.
The partnership was discussed at a meeting held on Monday in Abuja, where stakeholders focused on coordinated strategies to tackle persistent health challenges, expand vaccine coverage, and promote innovation in disease prevention, particularly in underserved communities across the region.
Vaccines such as the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) and Cholera vaccines were identified as top priorities for rapid deployment to high-risk populations.
Dr. Cyril Tsenyil, Managing Director of the NCDC, described the collaboration as a crucial step toward achieving vaccine self-sufficiency and advancing health equity within Nigeria’s North Central geopolitical zone and beyond.
He explained that the partnership would support Innovative Biotech’s establishment of Nigeria’s first end-to-end vaccine manufacturing facility — covering research, development, and large-scale production — to reduce dependence on imported vaccines.
Dr. Simon Agwale, Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Biotech, commended the NCDC for its leadership and commitment, noting that local vaccine production is vital for improving healthcare delivery and boosting regional industrial capacity.
Agwale added that the partnership aligns with Nigeria’s national policy promoting domestic production of essential health commodities and reflects the commission’s dedication to inclusive development and sustainable healthcare solutions.
Both parties also agreed to establish a technical working group to oversee implementation, including logistics coordination, vaccine awareness campaigns, and training programmes aimed at strengthening human resource capacity in the health sector.
