The company revealed that its new $230 million Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production facility will begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Speaking during a media interaction and facility tour of the Emzor API manufacturing plant in Sagamu, Ogun State, Group Managing Director and Founder, Dr. Stella Okoli, highlighted the company’s commitment to making high-quality, life-saving medicines readily available and affordable for Nigerians. She stated that Emzor has significantly impacted Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry by bridging critical gaps and improving access to essential medications, including antimalarials, pediatric care, tuberculosis drugs, and HIV/AIDS antiretrovirals.
Okoli said that Emzor has played a key role in eliminating the dominance of counterfeit and substandard drugs in the market.
She noted, “Fake, counterfeiting, falsified products used to be a recurring narrative about the Nigerian pharmaceutical ecosystem; Emzor has significantly changed this narrative with our unwavering commitment to investments in local production of high-quality pharmaceutical products.”
She further reiterated the company’s dedication to ensuring ‘medicine security’ in Nigeria through innovation, pharmaceutical manufacturing efficiency, and strategic investments.
“Our newest API plant on the Emzor Sagamu Campus is a testament to our vision of not just business survival, but value creation and making an impact,” she added.
Okoli also called on the government to increase support for local drug manufacturers by fostering an environment that encourages pharmaceutical industry growth and innovation.
She urged the government to inspire young Nigerians to explore careers in the pharmaceutical sector, emphasizing that a thriving local industry is crucial for national development.
Echoing her sentiments, Executive Director, General Duties, HR & Finance, Uzoma Ezeoke, described the Emzor API facility as a pioneering project in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.
She stressed that the plant would enhance local capacity, reduce dependence on imported APIs, and significantly bolster healthcare delivery in the country.
Ezeoke acknowledged the challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry, including inflation, high operating costs, and regulatory constraints, but assured that Emzor remains resilient.
“Our focus remains ensuring Nigerians have access to the same high-quality drugs as the rest of the world. We absorb many costs to keep medicines affordable because access to quality medicines should not be a privilege,” she stated.
She further outlined the company’s multi-layered measures to combat counterfeit drugs, which include stringent quality assurance, strong distributor relationships, and collaboration with regulatory agencies.
“By maintaining a stable supply chain, we prevent bad actors from filling the void with substandard products. Vigilance is crucial in safeguarding the integrity of medicines,” she explained.
