-Ex SGF Mustapha, Adeyeye, others commend Jawa on project completion
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate (left) commissioning the Jawa International Beta Lacta Factory. With him are Boss Mustapha, MD Jawa International and NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.
The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, on Tuesday commissioned the completed beta lactam factory built by Jawa International in Isolo, Lagos, to meet the antibiotics needs of the country.
While speaking shortly after commissioning and touring the factory, Prof. Pate congratulated the management and staff of the company for embarking on such a massive project for the good of Nigerians, stating that his commissioning of the Beta lactam plant symbolises one of the paths that Nigeria is taking to achieve medical industrialisation and unlocking the healthcare value chain, which is the focus of the current administration.
He noted that there are many more to be done in the period ahead, adding that it was important for him to have performed the commissioning, not just as a mark of support for Jawa International, but also a mark of support for all Nigerian pharmaceutical industry actors that the Nigerian government is with them.
The minister noted there are good days ahead for the pharma industry and health sector as a whole. He pointed out that when the implementation of the executive order given recently by President Bola Tinubu begins, it will bring many benefits.
“On the demand side, pooling government resources to buy from local manufacturers, I believe the industry actors will be very happy to hear that good news is on its way in terms of government intervention to foster, to stimulate, to lower the cost of products that are manufactured here.”
While commending the banks for the vital role they are playing to grease the wheel of the industry financially, he also applauded the regulatory body in the pharma industry for the great job they are doing, even as he urged them to do more.
“I call on the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) to regulate the distribution of drugs more and better, I also call on the Director General of NAFDAC to be telling me on a regular basis how more efficient and more effective NAFDAC is in regulating the industry. There are many more and better days ahead. So I want to encourage all actors to really take to heart that the health sector is not just about consumption.
“Yes, health is a right we should offer to everyone. Everyone should have access to good quality health and governments should invest in it. I can also boldly say that this government is investing in health and state governments are investing alongside the Federal Government under the leadership of the president.
“But there’s an economic value chain in health and we’re seeing that value chain manifest here. We’re seeing at least several hundred young Nigerians employed by this industry. Imagine the impact of this employment on the staff, on their households, and on their future generations. Because they have quality jobs, which they will stay on for some time, and they will grow through it. So there’s an economic value chain, and there’s an economic value in terms of the return earnings, and that’s where the banks are investing. But there’s also a societal value in creating jobs for our young people,” Prof. Pate said.
In his goodwill message, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federal, Mr Boss Mustapha commended Jawa on the completion and commissioning of the project, saying the commissioning of such a massive project is a testament to the resilience and the eminence of the Nigerian economy and its people.
“What we have commissioned, the beta lactam factory, is an edifice of international standard”, Mustapha said.
Also speaking at the event, the DG of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye commended Jawa for embarking on the project, even as she described drug manufacturers in Nigeria as compatriots who work against all odds. She emphasised that Nigeria can achieve greater things with determination.
Prof. Adeyeye said “What I want us to take away is yes, we can. Yes, we can. In terms of local manufacturing, our local manufacturers are patriots that work against all odds to make something like this happen. Why? Because we do not make anything in Nigeria that pharmaceutical companies use except water. So this is another miracle of our local pharmaceutical manufacturers. During the pandemic, the government realised they had left out the health sector completely. And the government decided to give infrastructural intervention funds, and Jawa was one of the beneficiaries for the said grants.
“To see what is happening now, I want to say thank you, Chief, for the faith journey that you took to get to this point. It is a faith journey, and I want to congratulate all Jawa staff, you have done very well. I said it is a faith journey because it takes talents, talents of money, talents of effort to get to where we are now. NAFDAC is here, always here to support you.
The Deputy Managing Director, Wema Bank, Mr Wole Ajimisinmi, who represented the managing director, described the MD of Jawa, Chief Varkey Verghese as a diligent user of funds. “He is very meticulous in utilization of funds and that is the difference between a project like this and others”, he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chief Verghese expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support. He specifically commended the NAFDAC and the DG Prof. Adeyeye for their support and encouragement from the beginning of the project till date. “Prof. Adeyeye has been a pillar of support to us and source of encouragement from the beginning till today”, Chief Verghese said.
He reiterated the company’s commitment to the development of the pharmaceutical industry and wellbeing of the Nigerian citizens, saying the company will keep the flag flying.
The event was attended by top personalities in the pharmaceutical industry among who were the President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm Tanko Ayuba; PCN Registrar, Pharm Babashehu Ahmed; former PSN President, Pharm Ibrahim Yakasai; Publisher of Pharmanews, Pharm. Ifeanyi Atueyi; Chairman, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, religious leaders, managing directors of pharma companies, captains of Industry and many others.
