Who Is Chairman Of Nafdac?

If you are familiar with the Nigerian pharmaceutical and food industry, then you must have come across the name NAFDAC. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is an agency of the Nigerian government responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and chemicals in Nigeria. It was established in 1993, under the leadership of Professor Dora Akunyili, to safeguard public health by ensuring that only safe, efficacious, and wholesome products are available in the Nigerian market.

Since its establishment, NAFDAC has undergone various reforms to improve its efficiency and effectiveness in fulfilling its mandate. One of the critical aspects of these reforms is the appointment of a chairman to oversee the agency's activities. In this article, we shall delve into the history of NAFDAC, its role in the Nigerian healthcare system, and who the current chairman of the agency is.

The History of NAFDAC

Before the establishment of NAFDAC, the regulation and control of food and drugs in Nigeria were mainly the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Health. However, due to the proliferation of substandard and counterfeit products in the Nigerian market, there was a need for an independent agency that would focus solely on regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and chemicals.

Thus, in 1993, the Nigerian government established NAFDAC under Decree 15 of the same year. Professor Dora Akunyili, a renowned pharmacist and pharmacologist, was appointed as the pioneer director-general of the agency. Under her leadership, NAFDAC became a force to reckon with in the regulation and control of food and drugs in Nigeria. She was responsible for the development of various regulatory guidelines and standards, the establishment of testing laboratories, and the seizure and destruction of substandard and counterfeit products.

After Professor Akunyili's tenure, NAFDAC was headed by various individuals, including Dr. Paul Orhii, who served as the director-general from 2009 to 2016. In 2018, the agency's name was changed to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, following the signing of the NAFDAC Amendment Act by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Role of NAFDAC in the Nigerian Healthcare System

As mentioned earlier, NAFDAC is responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and chemicals in Nigeria. The agency's primary objective is to safeguard public health by ensuring that only safe, efficacious, and wholesome products are available in the Nigerian market.

To achieve this objective, NAFDAC carries out various activities, such as product registration, inspection of manufacturing facilities, testing of products for quality, safety, and efficacy, and enforcement of regulatory guidelines and standards. The agency also collaborates with other regulatory agencies, such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), to prevent the importation of substandard and counterfeit products into the country.

NAFDAC's role in the Nigerian healthcare system cannot be overemphasized, as it plays a critical role in ensuring the availability of safe and effective products for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses. The agency's activities have contributed significantly to the reduction of morbidity and mortality rates in Nigeria, particularly in the areas of malaria, HIV/AIDS, and other infectious diseases.

The Current Chairman of NAFDAC

The current chairman of NAFDAC is Hon. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, a professor of pharmacology and former director-general of the Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC. She was appointed as the chairman of NAFDAC by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2020.

Hon. Adeyeye holds a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmaceutics and a Ph.D. in pharmaceutics, both from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She also has a master's degree in biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics from the University of London, UK. Before her appointment as the chairman of NAFDAC, Hon. Adeyeye was a professor of pharmacology at the College of Pharmacy, Roosevelt University, Chicago, USA.

As the chairman of NAFDAC, Hon. Adeyeye is responsible for overseeing the agency's activities, ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines and standards, and collaborating with other regulatory agencies and stakeholders to safeguard public health. She has promised to continue the reforms that have been initiated in NAFDAC, particularly in the areas of product registration, inspection of manufacturing facilities, and enforcement of regulatory guidelines and standards.

Conclusion

NAFDAC plays a critical role in ensuring the availability of safe and effective products for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses in Nigeria. The agency's activities have contributed significantly to the reduction of morbidity and mortality rates in the country, particularly in the areas of malaria, HIV/AIDS, and other infectious diseases. The appointment of Hon. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye as the chairman of NAFDAC is a step in the right direction, as she brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise in pharmacology and regulatory affairs. With her leadership, NAFDAC is poised to continue its mission of safeguarding public health by ensuring that only safe, efficacious, and wholesome products are available in the Nigerian market.