Nigeria signs deal with Cuba on vaccine production

02 May Nigeria signs deal with Cuba on vaccine production

Nigeria has signed an agreement with Cuba on contract manufacturing, technology transfer, vaccine production and commercialisation of the Cuban biopharmaceutical products.

Benaoyagha Okoyen, Nigeria’s ambassador to Cuba, in a statement made available in New York, said both countries also agreed to partner in other areas.

The envoy said Nigeria signed the document with Cuba at the just concluded 2022 BioHabana International Conference held from April 25 to 29 in Havana.

Okoyen and Eduardo Diaz, president of the Biotechnological and Pharmaceutical Industries (BioCubaFarma), who represented the Republic of Cuba, were said to have signed the expression of interest document.

He said both countries expressed interest to implement actions for the development of partnership, particularly in projects for scientific cooperation, academic collaboration, co-development agreements and licensing of innovative products.

“The Embassy of Nigeria in Havana, through the leadership of the Ambassador played a significant role in taking the Nigerian delegation through the different stages of their participation in the conference, including the coordination of several relevant side meetings,” he said.

“The delegation included participants from the Ministry of Health; National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control; Federal Ministry of Science and Innovation; Sheda Science and Technology Complex; National Biotechnology Development Agency; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).”

BioCubaFarma, organiser of the conference, is a Cuban government business organisation and biotechnology company engaged in scientific and technical development, producing high-tech drugs, equipment and services.Delegates from over 50 countries witnessed the signing of 18 agreements by 12 countries, including Nigeria, Australia, Russia, Germany, Japan, Canada, South Korea and Turkey. (NAN)