Nigeria, China Partner To Launch First Local Insulin Production Facility

NIGERIA has taken a major step toward improving healthcare and reducing dependence on imported medicines.

The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with China’s Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company Ltd. to establish the country’s first local insulin manufacturing plant.

The deal, announced in Abuja on Thursday by Dr. Robert Ngwu, Senior Special Adviser to the Minister, marks a turning point for healthcare access in Nigeria and across Africa.

According to Ngwu, the project — to be executed through the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) — could become the first of its kind on the continent.

“For decades, Nigerians with diabetes have relied on imported insulin, often at high cost and with frequent shortages,” he said. “This agreement changes that. It sets Nigeria on the path to becoming a regional leader in medical biotechnology.”

Why the Insulin Project Matters

The new facility will help address one of Nigeria’s most pressing health challenges — access to affordable diabetes treatment.

Key expected benefits include:

• Affordable Healthcare: Locally made insulin will be cheaper and more readily available.

• Health Security: The country will depend less on foreign suppliers and global supply chains.

• Job Creation: The project will create new biotech jobs and boost local research capacity.

• Regional Leadership: Nigeria could supply insulin to other African countries in the future.

A Promise of Renewed Hope

At the signing ceremony, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, described the agreement as “a promise of renewed hope for millions of Nigerian families affected by diabetes.”

He said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises healthcare, innovation, industrialisation, and national self-reliance.

“This partnership shows what is possible when innovation meets collaboration,” Nnaji said. “It is a big step toward a healthier, stronger, and more self-reliant Nigeria.”

Strengthening Nigeria–China Cooperation

The Ministry noted that the insulin project also demonstrates the growing partnership between Nigeria and China.

It said the collaboration reflects how international cooperation can deliver “meaningful, life-changing outcomes.”

Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company Ltd., the Chinese partner, is a global biotechnology firm known for industrial equipment manufacturing and healthcare innovation.

The company has a proven record of partnerships aimed at improving access to affordable health solutions through technology transfer and capacity building.