The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to strengthening scientific capacity for transforming new technologies into impactful treatments for Nigerians.
Dr. Salako made the remarks Tuesday in Abuja during a ministerial engagement with a delegation from Caring Cross, a US-based non-governmental organisation and international partners, led by the Director General, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research Development, Dr. Obi Adigwe.
He said President Tinubu accords the highest priority to health and contextual research, pointing out that key initiatives such as PVAC and the Pharma Sector Presidential Order have catalysed health security, economic growth and employment by promoting evidence-based policy and practice reforms, as well as accelerating value-chain transformation.
`
He added that the focus of the administration is to leverage and synergise seemingly diverse factors domiciled in government, industry, academia and the community, stating that the mandate of the ministry is to oversee institutional coordination, foster collaboration, catalyse innovation and ensure that all the efforts directly impact on people’s health and wellbeing, by working closely with organisations like Caring Cross.
“These skills are indispensable if we are to deliver locally relevant solutions, strengthen medicine security, and build resilient health systems across Africa,” he stated.
Dr. Salako described the meeting as critical, and hoped that the discourse would be remembered as the dawn of a new era, where science meets impact, research informs policy, and innovation saves lives.
He further explained that it aimed to leverage the cutting edge science of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell therapy, in improving access to care for our people, noting that across Africa, for far too long, people were deprived of new and innovative treatments, due to lack of engagement with the potentials in our setting.
Salako said Africa is the only continent that has not begun to leverage the CAR T-Cell therapy in a robust and comprehensive manner.
Earlier in her remarks, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, represented by Dr. John Ovoraye, said the ministry remains committed to strategic engagement and meaningful partnership with reputable institutions that can support the achievement of presidential priorities in the health sector.
“This engagement reflects our shared determination to strengthen Nigeria’s health system through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable investment,” she said.