The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has pledged full support to the Egyptian pharmaceutical company Utopia in establishing a drug manufacturing plant in the state.
Governor Otti made this promise as he received in audience the Chairman of Utopia, Dr. Kamel Mohamed, accompanied by Eze Apostle Gift Chibuzor Chinyere, who facilitated the investment visit.
A press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, after the meeting between Governor Otti and a delegation from the Egypt-based firm at the Government House, Umuahia, on Tuesday, July 22, states,
“We are very happy with your presentation. And I’m very pleased that you are looking at setting up a production plant. Not just sales, because you could as well produce anywhere, sell, make a profit, and all that.”
“But for us as a government, it is important to generate economic activities. And you generate economic activity through production. Because when you set up a production plant, you create jobs.”
“Then, this improves the GDP of the State and reduces poverty. And then you transfer technology, as you said.”
“So, you can take it for granted that this government will support you, to set up the manufacturing plant, and from there, you can export to other parts of Nigeria and West Africa,” the Governor assures.
The Abia State Governor, however, advised the investors to consider siting the proposed factory in the Ukwa or Osisioma area within the state, assuring them that land would be made available to facilitate the project.
Governor Otti further explained that siting the proposed pharmaceutical plant in the Ukwa area will offer strategic advantages, including access to gas resources and reliable electricity supplied by Geometric Power. As for issues relating to host communities, these can be effectively coordinated by Eze Apostle Gift Chibuzor Chinyere.
Otti also directed the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, to sustain discussions with the investors and ensure that every necessary government support is provided to fast-track the establishment of the pharmaceutical plant.
Earlier, Eze Apostle Gift Chibuzor Chinyere said he brought the Egyptian pharmaceutical company to Abia state because of Governor Otti’s commitment to healthcare development.
The middleman, Eze Apostle Gift Chibuzor, further disclosed that the delegation would also conduct a pilot presentation of its anti-malaria products in the state before departing.
In his presentation, the Chairman of Utopia, Dr. Kamel Mohamed, assures the state government that his company is coming to add value, stating that it is seeking a partnership with the Abia State Government to establish a world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing plant.
He explained that Utopia already operates under a Memorandum of Understanding between Egypt and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on drug registration, and assured that the investment would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry.
“We are coming to add value,” Mohamed stated.
He added that the company aims to make Nigeria a hub for advanced pharmaceutical technology, noting that Utopia has successfully executed similar projects in Tanzania and other countries, while expressing confidence that the Abia collaboration would succeed under Governor Otti’s administration.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Odochi Azubuike; the Chief Medical Director of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo; and other senior government officials.
“Utopia Pharmaceuticals (S.A.E) is a specialized company established in 2008, dedicated to the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and health care products. The company’s core mission is to ensure that citizens have access to high-quality pharmaceutical products of known origin, underscoring its commitment to social responsibility. Services offered by Utopia include: Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), Pharmaceutical formulation development, and Quality assurance and control practices.
