Africa Press-Nigeria:<\/p>\n
The Federal Government on Friday solicited the collaboration of Government of India to produce vaccine against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.<\/p>\n
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said this in Abuja at the handling over ceremony of medicines donated by Indian Government to the Federal Republic of Nigeria to aid the fight against COVID-19.<\/p>\n
Ehanire told the envoys that the partnership on vaccine production would help to address the need of the country and that of the ECOWAS sub region.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn area of interest I will like to stress is vaccine production; we are also a vaccine production aspiring country.<\/p>\n
\u201cNigeria is presently in a joint venture with a private company on exploring vaccine production to meet the need of the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will like to collaborate with you, with the advance science in India to address the vaccine needs in Nigeria and in the ECOWAS sub region,\u2019\u2019the minister said.<\/p>\n
He told his guests that he just attended meeting of the ECOWAS Ministers of Health, which discussed ways to address the vaccine needs of the sub region.<\/p>\n
According to him, it is the aspiration of the world to develop vaccine against COVID-19.<\/p>\n
\u201cNigeria will be interested if there is a way to connect our scientists to join your scientists to produce vaccine against COVID-19.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
He, however, thanked the India government for the donation, saying the items would help to serve the country better.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am delighted to receive these items donated by the government of India to the government and people of Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is particularly touching, because COVID-19 affects all countries. You have your own problem, just as we have our own problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn spite of that, you have been able to find the resources and attention to be able to remember Nigeria to make your donation to us.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past, we have had information from you on management protocol and technical advice on COVID-19,\u2019\u2019the minister said.<\/p>\n
Ehanire said that Nigeria have had long interaction with India on almost all areas, from defence to science, research and education, particularly.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps, the most cognate of the connection between our countries is pharmaceutical; India is the hub of pharmaceutical productivity and all aspiring will look toward India in that respect.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe look forward to collaborate with you in that area as well,\u2019\u2019the minister said.<\/p>\n
In his remarks, Mr Abhay Thakur, the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, said as part of India\u2019s ongoing collaboration with African countries to combat COVID-19 pandemic, had decided to donate some items to Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment of India today donated 7-tonnes of consignment of essentials medicines, including hydroxycholoroquine and medicine including antibiotics to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe consignment has been sent to Nigeria in line with commitment made in the conversation between the Indian Minister of External Affairs and Minister of Foreign of Affairs of Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis donation underscores the special and unique ties between India and Nigeria,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
According to him, India and Nigeria enjoy longstanding, multifaceted and friendly relations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndia is a close developmental partner of Nigeria, and remains committed to build capacity and contribute toward the health and welfare of the people of Nigeria, including in combating and overcoming COVID-19 challenges.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that highlight of the ceremony was the acceptance of 586 cartoons of the medicines by the Ehanire from Thakur.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Africa Press-Nigeria: The Federal Government on Friday solicited the collaboration of Government of India to produce vaccine against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said this in Abuja at the handling over ceremony of medicines donated by Indian Government to the Federal Republic of Nigeria to aid the fight against […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":27264,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,30],"tags":[1451,847],"class_list":["post-27501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-community","tag-covid-19","tag-ecowas"],"yoast_head":"\n