Nigeria, China sign landmark agreement to produce insulin locally

Nigeria is set to establish its first local insulin production facility following the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company Ltd. of China.

The agreement, announced on Thursday in Abuja by Dr. Robert Ngwu, Senior Special Adviser to the minister, marks a major breakthrough in the country’s healthcare and biotechnology sectors, with the aim of reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported insulin.

Ngwu explained that the project, the first of its kind in Nigeria and possibly in Africa, represents a bold step toward affordable healthcare, industrialisation and national health security.

The deal, signed under the leadership of Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, through the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), will facilitate the domestic manufacturing of insulin to serve Nigeria’s population as well as the wider African market.

For decades, Nigerians living with diabetes have depended entirely on imported insulin, often at high costs and with limited access.

With this agreement, the country is set to end that dependence and position itself as a regional hub for medical biotechnology.

According to the statement, the initiative will make insulin more affordable and widely available, reduce Nigeria’s exposure to international shortages and price shocks, create skilled biotech jobs, and establish the country as a pioneer in insulin production across Africa.

Minister Nnaji described the development as a promise of renewed hope for families affected by diabetes and a decisive step toward a healthier and more innovative Nigeria.

He noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places healthcare, innovation, industrialisation and self-reliance at the heart of national transformation.

The agreement also underscores the deepening partnership between Nigeria and China, showcasing how international cooperation can deliver meaningful solutions to pressing global challenges.

Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company Ltd., the Chinese partner in the project, is a multinational firm with expertise in biotechnology, industrial equipment and healthcare innovation, and has a strong record of international collaboration.