Cardiovascular Drug Training Begins in Abuja

The Federal Government has initiated a comprehensive training programme on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to strengthen local capacity for the production of high-quality cardiovascular drugs.

The training, led by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Presidential Initiative on Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), was organised in partnership with Resolve to Save Lives and the University of Abuja Cardiovascular Research Centre.

The initiative targets local pharmaceutical manufacturers, aiming to equip them with skills needed to meet international GMP standards, with a focus on producing cardiovascular medicines vital for treating hypertension and heart diseases—two of Nigeria’s top causes of mortality.

Fatima Gawuna, Ecosystem Enablement Analyst at PVAC, said the move was part of a broader strategy to reduce Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported medicines, which currently make up over 70 percent of the country’s drug supply.

“When we empower local manufacturers, we open the door to more affordable treatments, job creation, and the possibility of Nigeria becoming a major player in the African and global pharmaceutical markets,” she stated.

Other supporting partners include Quamed, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Foundation, and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN).

Dr. Kufor Osi, Senior Technical Advisor for Hypertension Control at Resolve to Save Lives, highlighted the urgency of the initiative. “Only 12 percent of the estimated 30 million hypertensive Nigerians have their blood pressure under control,” he said. “We are working to ensure that cardiovascular drugs produced in Nigeria are not only available but of the highest quality.”

Training modules included quality control, regulatory compliance, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), risk management, and cleanroom operations—all essential for GMP certification and export readiness.

Speaking for the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Talatu Yahaya Kassim reaffirmed the government’s commitment to domestic pharmaceutical production through policy support, infrastructure, and waivers on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

“Our goal is to reduce reliance on imports and empower local manufacturers to meet both domestic and export demands,” she said.