By Saidu Abubakar
Ahmadu Bello University and AMA Pharmaceutical Company have signified intentions to build strong partnership on drug development and commercialization of research outputs.
The Public Affairs Directorate, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria said in a statement that AMA-MED is the largest pharmaceutical company in the North based in Kaduna that produces high quality lifesaving intravenous fluids (IV Fluid).
The company has since inception in 2019 been pioneering advancements in medical manufacturing.
With last year’s signing of the Executive Order by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on raw materials for pharmaceuticals production, the partnership by both organizations will help increase local production of healthcare products and reduce production costs.
The intention for the partnership between the two organizations was when the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, first visited the pharmaceutical firm in Kaduna for SIWES placement for students of the institution.
The Vice-Chancellor was impressed with the state-of-art medical manufacturing facility with advanced AFFS technology, the statement added.
Prof Ahmed was also amazed at the continuing innovations that underscores the company’s growth and commitment.
After going round the pharmaceutical firm, they discussed the strong need for collaboration on drug production in various aspects of pharmaceutical development.
They also looked at the possibility of promoting the commercialization of research outputs from the institution’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and other related departments.
It was envisaged that the collaboration would help bridge the gap between the academia and the industry.
The return visit to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria recently by the Founder of AMA Pharmaceutical Company, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, further consolidated the process for the collaboration.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed confidence that the collaboration between ABU and AMA-MED would eventually enhance drug manufacturers’ competitiveness.
What the university is presently doing under the leadership of Prof Adamu Ahmed is to build collaboration with the industry for commercialization of research outputs.
The Vice-Chancellor’s recent visit to the University of Glasgow and University of Salford in the United Kingdom opened up new opportunities for research collaborations and linkages with the industry.
