Catalysing vaccines research, development and manufacturing in Nigeria: a qualitative exploration of industry stakeholders’ knowledge, perceptions and experience

Godspower Onavbavba, Obi Peter Adigwe, Diana Oyin-mieyebi Wilson & Erica Chiamaka Ene

Affiliation: National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria

Journal · Health Research Policy and Systems Year · 2026 Volume · 24:33 DOI · 10.1186/s12961-026-01442-z

This qualitative study identifies stakeholder-driven strategies for sustainable vaccine research, development, and local manufacturing in Nigeria. It highlights the need for enabling policy, research capacity, infrastructure, financing, market access, stakeholder coordination, and phased production.

Pharmaceutical manufacturingPublic healthRegulationCollaborationVaccine self-sufficiency

Research Snapshot

The article explores how Nigeria can accelerate vaccine self-sufficiency through a coordinated national ecosystem.

🎯Research Objective

To articulate robust, context-specific strategies for sustainable local vaccine production from stakeholders across the vaccine value chain.

🔬Qualitative Method

Seventeen experienced stakeholders were purposively recruited and interviewed; data were analysed thematically using a framework approach.

📌Core Result

Nine themes show that policy, skills, research systems, infrastructure, finance, markets, collaboration, advocacy and phased production must advance together.

Nine Strategic Themes

The thematic analysis produced nine interconnected priorities for Nigeria's vaccine ecosystem.

Enabling Environment

Policies, legislation, political will, concessions and effective regulation.

Capacity Building

Personnel recruitment, training, curriculum reform and technology transfer.

Research & Development

Researcher support, clinical trial capacity, sequencing resources and sustainable funding.

Infrastructure

Facility upgrades, reliable power and shared vaccine industrial parks.

Collaboration

Coordination across government, universities, manufacturers and international partners.

Effective Management

Committed leadership, continuity, accountability and strategic political coordination.

Commercialisation

Market shaping, advance procurement, pricing, cold chain and supply-chain management.

Advocacy

Stakeholder engagement and public communication to reduce vaccine hesitancy.

Commencing Production

Start small with fill-and-finish or routine vaccines, then scale toward integrated production.

Policy and Practice Implications

The study proposes a phased but coordinated pathway from current dependency toward sustainable vaccine sovereignty.

🏛️Government Commitment

Use enforceable local-patronage rules, incentives, targeted financing and a stable statutory coordinating mechanism.

⚙️Technical Ecosystem

Strengthen GMP-compliant facilities, regulatory laboratories, workforce skills, technology transfer and R&D translation.

📈Viable Market

Secure demand through advance procurement, competitive pricing, regional collaboration and resilient distribution systems.

Recommended Citation

Onavbavba, G., Adigwe, O. P., Wilson, D. O.-M., & Ene, E. C. (2026). Catalysing vaccines research, development and manufacturing in Nigeria: A qualitative exploration of industry stakeholders’ knowledge, perceptions and experience. Health Research Policy and Systems, 24, Article 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-026-01442-z

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