By Biola Lawal
FLOWERBUDNEWS: Nigeria, and indeed, Africa’s Public Health and pharmaceutical development is set for major boost as NAFDAC successfully deposited the Nation’s instrument of ratification of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty as the 34th Member state of the African Union.
The happy news was announced by Her Excellency, the Commissioner of Health and Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the African Union, Amb A. Twum-Amoah at the on-going Innaugural African Medicines Agency (AMA) Week in Kigali, Rwanda.
The AMA Week ran from Sunday 25th to Friday 30th of October, 2026, a statement made available to FLOWERBUDNEWS on Friday by the NAFDAC Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mrs. Christiana Obiazikwor disclosed.
Commenting on the positive development, NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, who is currently attending the international meeting, noted that Nigeria’s full AMA membership “represents a historic milestone in the advancement of medicines regulation and public health across the African continent.”
The AMA week conference was anchored by the Director General, Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, the Governing Board, representative of the Conference of State Parties and AU Special Envoy.
It is being attended by medicine regulatory agencies across the continent, Regional Economic Communities representatives, important dignitaries within the global health ecosystem including WHO and the European Union development and international partners.
NAFDAC is represented by the Director General NAFDAC Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye and several senior Directors of the Agency,
Prof. Adeyeye noted that “as Africa’s most populous nation and one of its largest pharmaceutical markets, Nigeria’s participation strengthens the collective resolve of African countries to establish a more coordinated, effective and harmonised regulatory environment for medicines and other medical products.”
The NAFDAC DG stressed further that the “important development reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding public health, combating substandard and falsified medical products, promoting pharmaceutical innovation, and advancing local manufacturing as a cornerstone of health security and economic development.”
“It also provides an opportunity to deepen collaboration between Nigeria’s NAFDAC the African Medicines Agency, and other national and regional regulatory institutions in pursuit of shared continental health objectives,” Prof. Adeyeye stated.
She urged that “Nigeria’s participation should now be translated into practical action through sustained institutional collaboration, regulatory capacity development, information sharing, scientific cooperation and the effective implementation of the AMA Treaty.”
“Ultimately, the success of the African Medicines Agency will be measured by its contribution to ensuring that every African has access to safe, effective, quality-assured and affordable medicines,” Prof. Adeyeye counselled the participants.
She declared that”Nigeria’s ratification is therefore not merely a diplomatic or legal achievement; it is a significant investment in Africa’s health security, pharmaceutical sovereignty and sustainable development.”
