China has announced plans to establish Africa’s first local insulin production facility in Nigeria, a move expected to transform diabetes care and reduce the country’s dependence on imported insulin.
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a reception marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Yu said the project would revolutionize blood glucose management, prevent diabetes-related complications, and position Nigeria as a hub for medical biotechnology on the continent.
“Chinese companies are in talks with Nigeria to build Africa’s first local insulin production facility, potentially ending Nigeria’s reliance on imported insulin and positioning Nigeria as a hub for African medical biotechnology,” he stated.
According to reports, the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company Ltd., a Chinese pharmaceutical firm, to establish the plant. The deal was witnessed by Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji.
NBRDA Director-General, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, described the project as a “turning point” for Nigeria’s health sector, noting that local insulin production would bring relief to millions of Nigerians living with diabetes, reduce import bills, and save billions of naira in foreign exchange annually.
Yu highlighted the project as part of the tangible benefits of China-Nigeria cooperation, citing the recently completed Abuja Water Supply Project, which now provides clean water to nearly three million people.
He also reflected on the symbolism of both nations celebrating their national days on October 1, describing it as a “shared national memory that binds our two peoples together.”
The envoy further praised individual stories of collaboration, including Issah Fatimah Abiola, Nigeria’s first female train driver trained by CCECC, who recently received China’s “Friendship Envoy Award,” and Ibrahim Ismail, a young Nigerian student fluent in Mandarin.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening ties with China across critical sectors, including health, infrastructure, energy, and education.
“In recent decades, the relationship between Nigeria and China has blossomed into a comprehensive strategic partnership defined not only by agreements but also by tangible outcomes,” Jibrin said.
The insulin plant, once completed, will be among the few such facilities worldwide and the first in Africa, marking a significant step toward medical self-sufficiency, industrial innovation, and improved healthcare delivery for Nigerians and the wider continent.
