President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has called on Nigeria and other African countries to pursue medical sovereignty through sustained investment in regenerative medicine, local research, manufacturing and healthcare innovation.
Dangote made the call while delivering the keynote address at the Atunse Summit in Lagos, where government officials, healthcare professionals, industry stakeholders and regulators discussed the potential of regenerative medicine and public-private partnerships to transform Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He said Africa must move beyond its dependence on imported medical technologies and develop the capacity to produce advanced healthcare solutions locally.
According to Dangote, the continent needs to strengthen its ability to prevent, detect and treat diseases while building the capacity to respond more effectively to emerging health challenges.
He described medical sovereignty as both a healthcare objective and a strategic development priority, arguing that countries capable of safeguarding the health of their populations are better positioned to strengthen their economies, retain skilled professionals, attract investment and respond to public health emergencies.
Dangote cited countries including India, Brazil, China and Indonesia as examples of nations that had strengthened their healthcare sectors through sustained investment in science, technology transfer and consistent policy support.
He, however, cautioned that advances in medical technology must ultimately translate into affordable and accessible healthcare for ordinary citizens.
He said innovation should not remain concentrated in elite hospitals and major urban centres but should contribute to improving healthcare outcomes across the wider population.
Also speaking at the summit, the President and Chairman of Atunse Healthcare Ltd, Prof Kamar Adeleke, said the organisation was established to address the long-standing trend of Africans travelling abroad to access advanced medical treatment.
Adeleke said although the initiative was starting in Lagos, its broader ambition was to develop healthcare capacity that could serve patients and institutions across Africa.
The Chief Executive Officer of Atunse Healthcare Ltd, Dr Sola Oluwole, said Nigeria’s medical tourism challenge went beyond the financial resources spent by patients seeking treatment overseas.
According to him, the country also loses potential investment, clinical expertise and economic opportunities associated with advanced healthcare services.
Oluwole said Atunse planned to develop an integrated healthcare ecosystem covering treatment, manufacturing, distribution and workforce development within Nigeria.
Representing the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, described regenerative medicine as one of the most promising frontiers in modern healthcare.
He said investments in the sector could also create opportunities for Nigerian doctors, scientists and other healthcare professionals working abroad to return and contribute their expertise to the country’s health system.
Abayomi said the Lagos State Government was also strengthening digital healthcare through its Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP).
He noted that the integration of health data, technology, specialist expertise and private-sector investment would enhance healthcare planning, stimulate innovation and improve access to advanced medical services.
Representing the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Director of the Vaccine, Biologics, and Medical Devices Registration and Regulation Directorate, Mrs Khadijah Ade-Abolade, said regenerative medicine offered significant opportunities but required robust regulatory oversight.
She explained that biologics and cell-based therapies presented different regulatory challenges from conventional medicines and therefore required specialised assessment.
Ade-Abolade said NAFDAC was committed to supporting responsible innovation while ensuring that regenerative medicine products met stringent requirements for safety, quality and efficacy.
She said the regulatory process would include comprehensive scientific reviews, ethical clinical trials, strict manufacturing oversight and post-market surveillance.
NAFDAC, she added, would continue to support credible researchers and local manufacturers while taking enforcement action against operators promoting unapproved regenerative therapies.
She stressed that the advancement of medical innovation must not compromise patient safety.
