The Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR, is taking
gigantic steps towards achieving his vision to create medium- and high-tech industrial
city in Anambra State, Nigeria.
In a groundbreaking development for pharmaceutical manufacturers in Nigeria, the
office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Medicals and Pharmaceuticals on
behalf of Anambra State Government, organized a high-level dinner for investors in the
Anambra Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Park Project. This historic event took place on
January 26, 2024, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Anambra Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Park, which is one of many of the
industrialization project of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR, seeks to address
the surging demand and supply challenges in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector. It is a
compact modern-day pharmaceutical industrial estate that will house pharmaceutical
companies of varying capacities, service providers, and companies providing support
services to share workstations and infrastructure. This venture is an early intervention
aimed at tackling both the skyrocketing demand and the supply of medicines in Nigeria
along with ensuring medicine/drug security for Nigeria and Africa in General.
This landmark dinner was graced by some of the biggest pharmaceutical industry
players in Nigeria. They include: Dr. Afam Obidike, Commissioner for Health, Anambra
State; Dr. Godwin Nnadozie, Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Anambra
State on Medicals and Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Mark Okoye, MD, ANSIPPA(Anambra
State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency); Pharm Harrison Abone, Special
Assistant to Mr. Governor on Medicals and Pharmaceuticals, Chief Leo Chiegboka,
Senior Special Assistant to Mr. Governor and head Liaison Office Lagos, Prof. Chimezie
Anyakora, CEO Bloom Public Health, Pharm Ike N.C., CEO of NCI Pharma; Chief Poly
Emenike (Odenigbo), CEO of Neros Pharmaceutical; Sir Pharm Nnamdi Obi, CEO of
Embassy Pharmaceutical and President APIN(Association of Pharmaceutical Importers
of Nigeria); Pharm Patrick Ajah, CEO of May & Baker Plc, Pharm. Valentine Okelu,
CEO of Neimeth (Formerly Pfizer) Plc; Ken Onuegbu FPSN, National Chairman NAIP(
Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria); Sir Paul Okafor, CEO Elbe Pharma;;
Emmanuel Duru, CEO of E-Global Pharma GMBH, among other eminent captains of
industries.
In His welcoming address, the Host and Special Adviser to Mr. Governor on Medicals
and Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Godwin Nnadozie, affirmed the position of the Anambra State
Government to assist pharmaceutical companies who would be investing in the park.
He elaborated that the Pharmaceutical ecosystem Mr Governor, Prof Charles
Chukwuma Soludo is establishing in Anambra state is not only part of his massive
industrialization agenda, but life saving intervention that places the state as the number
one destination in manufacturing and distribution of medicines in Africa.
The Hon. Commissioner for Health, Anambra State, Dr. Afam Obidike, in his opening
remarks stated that the government of Anambra State is fully committed to the project
and has already started investing in the Park since last year. He affirmed the
commitment of Mr Governor Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR, in creating the
enabling environment for Blue chip companies to thrive in the state through provision of
robust infrastructure and vibrant security architecture which has already reduced
insecurity incidences to the minimum over the preceding years.
The Managing Director of Anambra State Investment, Promotion, and Protection
Agency (ANSIPPA), Mr. Mark Okoye, in his remarks outlined the investment
opportunities and incentives available to all potential investors in the park. He assured
the investors that as a free trade zone, the investors are already a step ahead in
economic incentives not available to private companies.
While speaking at the event, the CEO of Bloom Public Health and technical partner on
the Ogboji Project, Professor Chimezie Anyakora, expressed his excitement about the
project and the impact it would have in addressing medicine security in Nigeria. He also
commended the government of Anambra State for embarking on this laudable project
and touched on the numerous benefits that investors stood to gain by plugging into this
project, such as favorable government support, access to a thriving market, a
collaborative business environment, supply chain sustainability, and export potential.
While addressing the audience, the Chairman of the event and CEO of Neros
Pharmaceuticals, Odenigbo Poly Emenike assured his colleagues, who were not yet
into pharma manufacturing that the best time to invest in pharmaceutical manufacturing
is now.
Goodwill messages were received from Pharm. Nnamdi Obi, President of APIN
(Association of Pharmaceutical Importers of Nigeria) and Pharm Ken Onuegbu,
Chairman NAIP (Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria)
The Special Adviser to Mr Governor On Medicals and Pharmaceuticals Dr Nnadozie
Godwin, The Hon Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike and The Managing
Director of ANSIPPA, Mr Mark Okoye II answered all the questions from the prospective
investors and the dinner ended on a very high note.
Pharm Harrison Abone
Special Assistant To Mr Governor on Medicals and Pharmaceuticals.