Jigawa Plans JIPHARMA Transformation From Retailer To Drug Manufacturer

The Jigawa State Government has commenced plans to transform the Jigawa State Pharmaceutical Company (JIPHARMA) from a retail business into a full-fledged pharmaceutical manufacturing firm.

Governor Umar Namadi disclosed this while inaugurating the newly constituted Board of Directors of the company, charging members to provide the leadership and expertise needed to drive the transformation.

Namadi said the move was aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, creating employment opportunities and positioning Jigawa to benefit from the growing pharmaceutical market in Nigeria and Africa.

“Our objective is to transform it from a retail company to a full-fledged production company. So, you have a very, very big challenge,” the governor told the board.

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He also disclosed that several investors had submitted proposals to invest in the company through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

According to him, the new board is expected to engage with potential investors, provide strategic direction and ensure that any partnership serves the interests of the people of Jigawa State.

“We need experts on the board of this company who will discuss with these parties, who will give direction to the company, and who will ensure that the PPP that we are going to enter into is going to be beneficial to the people of Jigawa State,” he said.

The governor said the government took time to select members of the board because of the importance of the company’s new mandate, adding that their experience, professional records and integrity were key considerations.

Responding, Chairman of the JIPHARMA Board of Directors, Pharm. Hashim Ubale Yusufu, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in the board and pledged to work towards achieving the company’s new objectives.

Yusufu said the board would focus on moving JIPHARMA from its current retail operations into pharmaceutical manufacturing, while also exploring research and development opportunities.

He said strong collaboration, strategic planning, good corporate governance and ethical conduct would guide the board’s activities.

Highlighting the potential of the African pharmaceutical market, Yusufu said local production currently accounts for less than 20 per cent of the medicines required across the continent.

“In Africa today, the whole local production only meets less than 20 per cent of the need of the population. So, in the pharmaceutical sector, it’s a huge market,” he said.

The board chairman said Jigawa could take advantage of the gap by developing local capacity to produce quality medicines, while creating jobs and contributing to economic growth.

The planned transformation of JIPHARMA comes amid growing efforts across Nigeria to strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing, improve access to essential medicines and reduce dependence on imported drugs.