The federal government has officially launched Empower Academy Nigeria to upskill up to 2,000 professionals annually, free for qualified Nigerians for the next two years, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical and healthcare workforce.
The academy is a collaboration between the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) and the Swiss-based Empower School of Health. It will initially offer 40 certificate courses covering areas such as regulatory science, quality assurance, supply chain management, good manufacturing practice (GMP), and advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The launch took place on Wednesday in Abuja and was performed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate. He said the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to building local capacity and reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported medicines.
Empower Academy Nigeria is described as a first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing training institution designed to transform Nigeria’s health and industrial landscape. Developed as a national hub for pharmaceutical excellence, the academy combines classroom learning, laboratory practice, mentorship, and factory-style training to equip young Nigerians with practical, industry-ready skills.
According to the programme outline, all courses will be available free of charge to qualified Nigerians for the next two years. This scholarship-based access is aimed at fostering a skilled, world-class workforce that can support Nigeria’s goal of producing 70 percent of its pharmaceutical needs locally by 2030.
Phase one of the academy is already live and operates as a virtual learning platform. It currently hosts 40 certificate courses focused on GMP, supply chain operations, regulatory standards, and other critical manufacturing skill sets needed across the pharmaceutical value chain.
Speaking at the launch, the PVAC National Coordinator, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, announced that PVAC will provide scholarships to Nigerians to ensure free access to the courses during the initial two-year period. He said the academy was designed to close skills gaps that have limited growth in local pharmaceutical production.
“The Empower Academy is a strategic investment in people,” Mukhtar said. “Through strong partnerships, we are ensuring that Nigerians can access high-quality training that directly supports local manufacturing and innovation in healthcare.”
The Coordinating Minister also directed that specific slots be reserved for the current and incoming cohorts of the National Health Fellows programme. According to him, this decision reinforces coordination across sector-wide initiatives and strengthens Nigeria’s healthcare workforce through targeted professional development.
The Director General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, also commended the launch, describing it as a timely intervention for Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Mustapha said Nigeria has for many years experienced a disconnect between academic training and the practical demands of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry. He noted that Empower Academy Nigeria was deliberately created to address this gap by offering industry-aligned skills that translate into real-world impact.
He further highlighted NBRDA’s ongoing work in genomics research, local insulin production, and the development of antiretroviral drugs for HIV. According to him, these initiatives, alongside technology transfer partnerships, are aimed at expanding local medicine production, strengthening the healthcare sector, and reducing dependence on imported drugs.
Courses offered by the academy are co-developed with international partners, including the Africa CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), giving participants exposure to globally recognized standards.
The launch event was attended by key stakeholders from government and the health sector, underscoring the Federal Government’s broader commitment to unlocking the healthcare value chain through skills development, innovation, and strategic partnerships for sustainable healthcare workforce growth.
