ABU Zaria and AMA Medical Forge Strategic Alliance to Revolutionize Healthcare Manufacturing

A delegation from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, has visited AMA Medical Manufacturing Ltd.

The visit was to enhance a strategic partnership between AMA Medical and Ahmadu Bello University in order to advance the development of healthcare products through collaborative research, innovation and commercial production.

Receiving the delegation, the founder of AMA Medical Manufacturing Ltd, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa Bello, thanked the delegation for the visit.

Alhaji Musa stated that he was excited about the collaboration with ABU, stressing that the university means a lot to them.

The founder said since they started they were competing against something inferior in terms of quality.

According to him, in Northern Nigeria, there was absolutely nothing in terms of drug production, as such, one would have to transport from Lagos and Port Harcourt.

He said as a way of giving back to the society, he had been to so many states in Nigeria for cataract operations and distribution of reading glasses, saying that testimonies from patients who have been successfully operated give him joy.

Musa expressed happiness to have the ABU team on board as they know more than they do.

Also speaking, the Chairman, AMA Medical Manufacturing Ltd, Prof Abdulsalami Nasidi, OON said they decided to bring the initiative to put Northern Nigeria on the map.

Prof Nasidi said the main objective of the partnership is from research to full scale commercialization.

He said they started by commissioning the ABU Science and Technology Incubation hub last January by the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, which would offer opportunities for students to excel in learning and research.

Prof Nasidi asserted that he had visited seven medical facilities in India and that all of them had partnerships with local universities.

The Chairman also said all their products underwent detailed scrutiny by the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC), making them of international standard.

There was a presentation on the company's unique selling points by the Superintendent Pharmacist, AMA Medical Manufacturing, Pharm. Olushola Olawale. 

Olawale explained that AMA was not only bringing technology to Nigeria and Africa, but also working with polypropylene film, ports, caps and anti counterfeit features, which ensures crystal clear transparency and it is mechanically rugged.

He said the sterility assurance level of their facilities is 99.99%, and that it sterilized at 121 degrees celsius for 20 minutes.

The Superintendent Pharmacist said they are convenient in terms of administration, easier and less troublesome.

In a closing remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, thanked the founder for activating the process of the partnership.

Prof Ahmed said at 63, the university had stayed for too long in the laboratory, therefore, it is time to go to the market.

The Vice-Chancellor assured the management of AMA Medical Manufacturing Ltd of the team's commitment, stressing that ABU must step up in this kind of relationship.

He appreciated the significant support of Alhaji Musa towards the success of the university's 45th convocation ceremony.

The Vice-Chancellor emphasized that hosting three World Bank Centres showed that the university has the capacity to excel.

According to Ahmed, AMA Medical Manufacturing Ltd has the capacity to excel with the kind of facilities on ground and that AMA needs ABU as much as ABU needs AMA.

He lauded the foresight of the founder and prayed for more visionary Nigerians like him.

Members of the delegation included Centre Leader, Africa Centre of Excellence on Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Prof Y K E Ibrahim; Deputy Centre Leader, Prof Musa Maman; Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), ABU Teaching Hospital, Shika, Prof Mohammed Aminu Balarabe; and Director, Directorate of Advancement and International Education, Prof M I Umar-Buratai.

Others were Director, University Health Services, Prof Mohammed Dauda Maigatari; Director, Directorate of Research and Innovation, Prof J J Maina; Director Venom, Anti Venom Toxins Research, Prof Nuhu Mohammed Danjuma and Prof M S Abubakar of the Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development.

They also included Director, Public Affairs Directorate, Auwalu Umar; Dean Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prof Mohammed Magaji and Public Affairs Directorate's Senior Information and Protocol Officer, Ahmad Haruna Waziri.