Professor urges universities to establish drug manufacturing units

Professor Vincent Odigie, a University of Benin academic and Professor of General Surgery, has called for Nigerian universities to set up drug manufacturing units as part of a broader push to address the country's healthcare and socio-economic challenges. Speaking during the university's 366th Inaugural Lecture, Odigie argued that tertiary institutions must move beyond teaching and research to become centres of innovation and manufacturing. He specifically advocated for pharmaceutical production within universities to boost local research, reduce reliance on imported medicines, and improve access to affordable healthcare.

Odigie emphasized that knowledge generated in universities should translate into tangible societal benefits, including job creation and improved health security. He stated that every university should have a drug manufacturing unit, linking this initiative to broader technological and industrial advancement. Drawing from his 46 years of surgical experience, he highlighted that poverty, not ignorance, is the primary reason patients present late for treatment. Many die not because cures are unavailable but because they cannot afford care.

The professor also proposed a technology-driven emergency response system, where patients could summon ambulances via a mobile app, with costs covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme. He likened the idea to calling an Uber, insisting that emergency care should not depend on immediate cash availability. Odigie called on governments, universities and the private sector to collaborate in building a healthcare system grounded in innovation, research and sustainable financing. He stressed the need for a more inclusive universal health insurance model to protect Nigerians from catastrophic medical expenses.

Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →