SSDC Partners Innovative Biotech to Boost Local Vaccine Production for South-South Health Security

Abuja, Nigeria — In a strategic move to strengthen regional health resilience, the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) is exploring a partnership with indigenous pharmaceutical firm Innovative Biotech Limited for the local production and procurement of critical vaccines to combat preventable diseases across the South-South region.

The initiative was discussed during a recent courtesy visit by SSDC Managing Director Usoro Akpabio to the company’s headquarters in Abuja, where talks centered on building a sustainable vaccine supply chain to tackle diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and HPV—common in the region’s coastal communities.

“Our engagement with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency has shown the need to look inward,” Akpabio stated. “Local vaccine production aligns directly with our regional health resilience strategy and supports Nigeria’s broader drive for self-sufficiency in essential medical supplies.”

Akpabio emphasized that affordability and accessibility would remain key priorities, saying, “There must be incentives to make these vaccines affordable. We can’t afford to be more expensive than foreign suppliers.”

The collaboration aims to explore the production of vaccines including Typhoid Conjugate, Cholera, HPV, and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCV), while also promoting joint capacity-building initiatives for local health institutions.

Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Biotech Limited, Dr. Simon Agwale, welcomed the SSDC delegation and presented his company’s roadmap toward achieving full-scale vaccine manufacturing in Nigeria.

“We believe this engagement will align procurement planning with Nigeria’s vision for local production, ensuring reliable, cost-effective, and resilient vaccine access for the South-South,” Dr. Agwale noted.

The SSDC’s mandate includes promoting health security, human capital development, and regional industrialization. This potential partnership, officials say, represents a significant step toward achieving a more self-reliant healthcare system for the South-South region.

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