Nigeria and Brazil have signed a landmark health sector cooperation pact at the BRICS summit.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

The statement reads: ” On the margins of the BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting in Brazil, I had the honour of signing the Nigeria — Brazil Memorandum of Understanding on Health Collaboration with my esteemed counterpart, Dr. Alexandre Padilha, the Honourable Minister of Health of the Federative Republic of Brazil.”

This milestone agreement according to the minister reflects the strategic vision and international cooperation priorities of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under whose leadership Nigeria is implementing bold and far reaching reforms to strengthen its health system, advance local manufacturing, and reposition the country as a regional hub for pharmaceutical innovation and self-reliance.

He noted that the “agreement is fully aligned with the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and supports the Presidential Initiative on Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), a flagship under the NHSRII that aims to expand domestic production, crowd in private investment, and create high quality jobs across the health sector.”

Continuing, he said: “The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a structured framework for cooperation in critical areas, including vaccine access and production, starting with exploring possible government-to-government (G2G) procurement and progressing toward the local manufacturing of vaccines, essential medicines, and pharmaceutical raw materials in Nigeria over time.

“It further provides avenues for technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, and skills development, all of which are essential to building a resilient, inclusive, and future ready health system for our people both in Nigeria and across Africa.

“This partnership strengthens the bonds of South — South cooperation and affirms the shared commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of Brazil to building sustainable, high performing health systems that deliver value, equity, and biosecurity for their people.”

Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prof Pate said “we are laying a generational foundation for a stronger, more inclusive, and investment ready, people-focused health system that is anchored on equity, quality outcomes, resilience, and impact.”