In a bid to reshape the pharmaceutical landscape across Africa, Nigeria’s foremost drug manufacturer, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has announced a fortified strategic alliance with Japan’s Ohara Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
The announcement, made at the prestigious 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), marks a watershed moment in the evolution of African-Japanese healthcare collaboration, according to a statement signed by Temitope Akindele, Fidson’s Corporate Services Manager.
Led by Abiola Adebayo, Managing Director and CEO, the Fidson delegation - comprising Imokha Ayebae, Finance Director and Oshoke Ayebae, Business Development and Marketing Director, unveiled the expanded partnership, the statement added.
The pact will see Ohara not only supporting Fidson’s capital raise but also offering strategic guidance rooted in Japan’s pharmaceutical expertise. This will empower Fidson to manufacture more specialised medicines tailored to Africa’s diverse disease burden.
“This alliance is not just symbolic—it is transformative,” Adebayo declared during the conference. “Putting this strategic alliance on a world stage like TICAD emphasises the fact that the Fidson-Ohara collaboration has come to stay.”
The roots of this partnership trace back to July 2019, following Fidson’s rights issue. Since then, Ohara has transferred critical expertise in therapeutic areas such as paediatric oncology and generic medicines, directly addressing Nigeria’s chronic over-reliance on imported drugs.
Adebayo underscored the impact, “By leveraging Ohara’s technical know-how and experience, the partnership has strengthened local production capacity, improved the quality and affordability of medicines, and ultimately reduced the country's dependence on foreign supplies.”
Now, with Ohara deepening its commitment, the collaboration is set to accelerate the transfer of advanced manufacturing processes and research capabilities. Fidson will be equipped to produce a broader range of high-quality, locally manufactured medicines - including specialised drugs that meet Africa’s urgent healthcare needs.
“This is a very welcome development,” Adebayo added. “It will remarkably scale up Fidson’s operations and expand capabilities into areas critical to Africa’s healthcare future, such as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production and other breakthrough innovations pioneered by Ohara.”
For Ohara, the partnership offers a strategic gateway into Africa’s dynamic pharmaceutical market. For Fidson, it solidifies its status as a dominant force in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector and a rising continental leader.
Dr Seiji Ohara, President and CEO of Ohara Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., echoed this sentiment: “Since the beginning of our collaboration, Ohara and Fidson have built a sincere and trusting relationship through numerous meetings and visits. We are delighted to have now signed a Memorandum of Understanding based on this trust, allowing us to explore ways to further strengthen our relationship.”
He continued, “Going forward, we hope to contribute to the realisation of two key values— the growth of Fidson's business and the mission of saving more lives— by maintaining our excellent partnership and connecting them with the latest innovations and technologies.”
The Fidson-Ohara alliance stands as a compelling blueprint for how international partnerships can catalyse structural transformation in Africa’s healthcare sector—shifting it from a consumption-based model to one driven by local production, innovation, and self-reliance.
This is not merely a business deal. It is a bold declaration of intent: Africa will no longer be a passive consumer of global healthcare solutions. With strategic alliances like this, it is becoming a producer, innovator, and leader in its own right.
