ABU Zaria Partners with AMA-MED to Boost Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Innovation

Ahmadu Bello University and AMA Medical Manufacturing Ltd (AMA-MED) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration in areas of mutual interest within pharmaceutical sciences, manufacturing, research, and capacity development. 

The collaboration may support the development of pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, technology development and transfer, research translation, and workforce development. 

The agreement will be in compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards, NAFDAC regulations, and other applicable national and international regulatory requirements. 

The MoU was signed in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria on Saturday, 31st January, 2026 at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of ABU Science and Technology Incubation Park. 

Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, signed the agreement on ABU's behalf, while Chairman, AMA-MED Medical Manufacturing Ltd, Prof Abdulsalam Nasidi, stood in for the pharmaceutical firm. 

AMA-MED is a pharmaceutical manufacturing company engaged in the manufacture of intravenous fluids, biologicals, and other pharmaceutical products. 

Both parties recognise the strategic importance of academia-industry collaboration in advancing pharmaceutical education, research, technology development, and local manufacturing capacity. 

The MoU also sets out general principles only and shall be implemented through specific project agreements, addenda, or work plans. 

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, the Director-General, World Trade Organization, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stressed that people must start thinking of creating their own jobs. 

Okonjo-Iweala, who laid the foundation stone for the construction of ABU Science and Technology Park, lamented that Africans were not good in registering patents. 

In Nigeria, she said, there were so many wonderful brains and that many pieces of knowledge were stolen because they did not have registered patents. 

She congratulated Ahmadu Bello University on having the all important park and thanked the founder of AMA-MED Ltd, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa Bello, for collaborating with the university to create jobs. 

Also speaking, the Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Achebe, commended the university management led by the Vice-Chancellor for the clarity of vision reflected in the project. 

Achebe also acknowledged AMA Medical Manufacturing Industries for partnering with the university in a manner that exemplifies purposeful and mutually beneficial university-industry collaboration. 

In an address of welcome, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, said the event marked "a decisive step" in ABU transition from a research-intensive university to an innovation-driven and industry-engaged institution. 

Prof Ahmed said ABU has a proud tradition of rigorous research and scholarship. 

He, however, said the demands of the time required that the university must move decisively beyond knowledge generation to knowledge utilisation. 

"Research must move out of the laboratory and into the market. Innovation must move beyond publications to products", he stressed. 

The Vice-Chancellor was delighted to report that the university had successfully registered 36 patents, many of which are waiting commercialization. 

Without a structured incubation ecosystem, according to him, these intellectual assets risk remaining underutilized. 

"This hub is designed to provide that missing link - supporting prototyping, validation, scaling, and commercialization", he further said. 

In his remarks at the occasion, the Chairman, AMA Medical Manufacturing Ltd, Prof Abdulsalam Nasidi, stressed the importance of research in advancing education generally.

Prof Nasidi also said the collaboration with AMA-MED would ensure the development of joint research proposals and funding applications, where appropriate. 

The chairman of the pharmaceutical company announced Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano's an undisclosed financial contribution to the project. 

His Excellency, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, Executive Governor, Abia State, graced the groundbreaking ceremony. 

Governor Otti praised both ABU and the Pharmaceutical company for the joint collaboration for research development. 

He also pledged his government's support towards the success of the project. 

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, ABU Governing Council, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, was among the personalities who attended the groundbreaking ceremony. 

Others were Rt Rev & Rt Hon Justin Welby, former Archbishop of Canterbury; and Founder, AMA Medical Manufacturing Ltd, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa Bello. 

They also included Principal Officers of the University, Deans and Directors, as well as other Heads of Unit of the institution.