Kano, Nigeria – The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Kano Chapter recently hosted a crucial engagement with the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The meeting, which brought together key industrial stakeholders in Kano, aimed to foster collaboration and explore intervention opportunities to boost the local healthcare manufacturing sector.

The event commenced with opening prayers by Malam Muhammad Tukur, followed by self-introductions from all participants. Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, the National Coordinator of PVAC, then provided a comprehensive background on the initiative, outlining its mandates, achievements, and the strategic reasons for their visit to Kano.



Dr. Mukhtar highlighted that PVAC, launched in October 2023 under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and operating under the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, is designed to revolutionize Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem. Its core objectives include enhancing domestic production of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare technologies; reducing reliance on imported medical products and curbing outbound medical tourism; creating employment opportunities; encouraging innovation and research; and establishing strategic partnerships with global industry leaders.


Key initiatives already undertaken by PVAC include the establishment of a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Training Academy in collaboration with Empower School of Health, Geneva, which aims to train up to 2,000 professionals annually. Dr. Mukhtar also reported the mobilization of $5.5 billion in private sector investments for local pharmaceutical manufacturing and workforce development. Policy support through Executive Order 17, offering incentives like zero tariffs and VAT exemptions on select pharmaceutical machinery and raw materials, further underscores the government's commitment. International collaborations, such as the Memorandum of Understanding with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), are also strengthening Nigeria's health-product manufacturing capabilities.

The impact of PVAC's efforts is already evident, with over 70 bankable projects exceeding $5 billion initiated, supported by institutions like the European Investment Bank, Afreximbank, African Development Bank (AfDB), Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), and the Bank of Industry (BOI). These initiatives are strategically positioning Nigeria as a leading hub for pharmaceutical and medical product manufacturing in Africa.



The comprehensive mandate of PVAC, as outlined by Dr. Mukhtar, encompasses healthcare value chain transformation, enhancing domestic manufacturing capabilities, job creation and economic growth, improving access to quality healthcare, capacity building and knowledge transfer, cross-sectional collaboration and partnership, and regulatory and policy reform.

During their visit to Kano, the PVAC team conducted site visits to several key facilities, including the Independent Research Center (clinical research on TB), MGK, Pal Pharmaceuticals LTD, Al-Razi University, Prime Hospital (Heart Center), Labanes Hospital, and a syringe factory. Dr. Mukhtar emphasized that their visits aimed to identify potential intervention areas across manufacturing, hospitals, test kits, vaccines, and clinical services.

PVAC is working in strong collaboration with key regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC, PCN, SON, and the Bank of Industry, to ensure a supportive environment for the healthcare sector.

The engagement concluded with a Q&A session, allowing stakeholders to seek clarifications and discuss potential collaborations, followed by a closing prayer. This collaborative effort between PSN Kano and PVAC signals a promising future for the growth and development of the healthcare industrial sector in Kano and across Nigeria.