The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) is a Federal Government Parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Health. The Agency was established by Government Order No. 33 Vol. 74 of 11th June 1987 Part B under the Science and Technology Act Cap 276. It became functional in the year 1989. In 2001 following a Federal Executive Council decision, NIPRD was moved to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), with a huge investment in scientific equipment and human resources.
NIPRD is the only one of its kind in the Region, and is statutorily charged with the responsibility for research and development of drugs, vaccines, phytomedicines, commodities, and diagnostics aimed at improving sustainable access to safe, affordable and high-quality healthcare. NIPRD also undertakes activities relating to capacity building, policymaking, data collation, drug distribution and the development of contextual partnerships that can expedite access to healthcare.
NIPRD was designated a Center of Excellence (CoE) in the African Sub-region in research and development of drugs, vaccines, phytomedicines, and diagnostics towards improving the health and well-being of Nigerians and mankind by the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDi) in 2011. NIPRD is ISO 9001:2015 certified by the Standards Organization of Nigeria, and recently got its laboratory accredited by the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS) for ISO 17025:2017 in the field of technical competence in testing.
Following its establishment three decades ago, NIPRD has engaged with the objectives that necessitated its creation. As such, the Institute has focused on the contextual development of new medications and novel molecules for the Nigerian setting. The optimal functioning of the institute has however been limited by various factors, including poor funding and a low R&D to New Product Development (NPD) Ratio. In the next phase of the Institute’s strategic plan, a more aggressive and contextual approach, underpinned by a collaborative and integrated platform needs to be formulated. This approach should include robust engagement with the Pharmaceutical Companies for NPD; Increased collaboration with Nigerian and Foreign Universities; Strategic Partnerships with other Institutes and Funding Agencies; and an intensive backward integration plan to stimulate local product of excipients, pharma inputs and other relevant raw materials relevant for the sector.