BIOTECHNOLOGY PAVES THE WAY FOR IMPROVING HEALTHCARE IN NIGERIA By Eugene Navan
BIOTECHNOLOGY PAVES THE WAY FOR IMPROVING HEALTHCARE IN NIGERIA.
By Eugene Navan
Nigeria is a country blessed with people of talent and people that are not easily broken, as well as vast natural resources. Yet, if there is one issue that continues to expose a deep national weakness, it is the state of the medical sector. Over the years, Nigerians have watched as both leaders and ordinary citizens travel abroad for medical treatment, often at great personal and financial cost. This has become a familiar and troubling reality, especially when hospitals at home remain underfunded, poorly equipped, and unable to meet the needs of the population. A nation that routinely looks outside its borders for healing is, in many ways, admitting that it does not fully trust its own systems.
Despite this difficult reality, there is still reason for hope (especially within myself). Nigeria is not lacking in solutions; in fact, many of them already exist within the country. If you look across universities, research institutes, and teaching hospitals, young Nigerians and experienced professionals are being trained in biotechnology, medicine, and related fields. Some have worked or studied in advanced research environments in Europe, North America, and Asia, gaining first-hand exposure to modern medical innovation. These individuals represent a pool of knowledge and experience that could help reshape Nigeria’s medical future, if the country chooses to make proper use of it.
Moving forward, the development of a strong biotechnology industry is essential. Biotechnology forms the foundation of modern healthcare; if you look at vaccines and medications, diagnostic tools and medical equipment, you will understand that biotechnology determines how effectively a country can prevent diseases, respond to health emergencies, and care for its people. For Nigeria, investing in biotechnology is a matter of practical and unavoidable step toward medical stability.
One of the most serious weaknesses in Nigeria’s healthcare system is its heavy reliance on imported medical supplies. Vaccines, drugs, test kits, and hospital equipment are largely sourced from outside the country. During global emergencies, such dependence becomes very dangerous. The COVID-19 pandemic made this painfully clear, as Nigeria struggled with limited access to vaccines and diagnostic tools while wealthier nations secured supplies for themselves. When a country cannot produce essential medical items on its own, it becomes highly vulnerable in times of crisis, and that is a proven fact.
This dependence can be reduced by building local capacity in biotechnology. Producing vaccines and medicines within Nigeria would improve access to life-saving treatments and significantly lower costs. Local manufacturing of medical equipment would not only strengthen the healthcare system but also create jobs and encourage innovation across the economy. In this way, medical self-reliance becomes both a health and an economic strategy.
Nigeria’s greatest strength in this journey is its people. Thousands of Nigerian youths are currently studying biotechnology, medicine, engineering, and related disciplines. Many are already working in advanced laboratories and hospitals abroad, gaining experience that Nigeria urgently needs. Their knowledge and exposure represent an opportunity that should not be ignored.
For this potential to be realized, both government and the private sector must take deliberate steps. Policies that provide research funding, tax incentives, modern laboratories, and professional support would make it easier for skilled Nigerians to return home or collaborate meaningfully from abroad. Instead of relying solely on imported expertise and equipment, Nigeria must empower its own scientists and doctors to lead the country toward medical independence.
Research remains at the foundation of biotechnology. Without sustained investment in research, no country can hope to compete globally. Nigeria must increase funding for scientific research, equip universities and research institutions with modern facilities, and encourage partnerships with international bodies. Breakthroughs happen where researchers are given the freedom to explore ideas, test solutions, and innovate. Nigeria can begin to make progress against diseases that continue to affect its population, including malaria, autoimmune diseases, hepatitis, Lassa fever, and cancer, if it creates the right environment for research and innovation to thrive.
As research and innovation grow, Nigerian manufacturers will be pushed to improve the quality of their products. Supplying hospitals nationwide will require meeting accepted standards, and over time this will raise the overall quality of locally produced medical equipment. Eventually, this could open doors for Nigerian-made products to compete in international markets. What Nigeria can develop will not just be part of its technological advancement, but also a very strong economic breakthrough for the country.
However, the future of healthcare cannot rest on biotechnology alone. The integration of biotechnology with artificial intelligence represents the next major step. Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform healthcare through early disease detection, outbreak prediction, and personalized treatment plans based on patient data. By analyzing patterns in medical information, AI systems can help doctors make faster and more accurate decisions, especially in complicated health conditions and scenarios.
Nigeria stands to benefit greatly from AI-driven health systems designed around its specific challenges. With properly managed health data, machine-learning tools can support diagnostics, improve preventive care, and strengthen public health planning. The combination of biotechnology and artificial intelligence offers Nigeria a chance to improve healthcare access, and also become a contributor to global medical innovation.
The economic benefits of investing in biotechnology are equally important. If you look at this critically, you will discover without a doubt that a thriving biotechnology sector would create employment opportunities across science, healthcare, manufacturing, and education. It would also reduce the enormous financial losses associated with medical tourism, as Nigerians would no longer need to seek treatment abroad for conditions that could be handled at home. In the long term, exporting medical products and equipment could generate valuable foreign exchange.
I add here that this innovation will restore the confidence of Nigerian leaders and citizens on a healthcare system that works. Nigerians should feel confident that their hospitals can handle serious medical conditions and proud that their leaders receive treatment within the country. Developing biotechnology is therefore not just about improving health services; it is about restoring dignity and belief in national institutions.
The path out of medical instability is clear, and still remains that, even if it is not easy, Nigeria must commit to building a healthcare system rooted in local innovation, supported by biotechnology, and strengthened by artificial intelligence. This path will require patience, investment, and long-term planning, but the rewards are significant: a healthier population, a stronger economy, and a nation that stands confidently among others.
Nigeria has both the talent and the potential to succeed. What it needs now is the right leadership concern, the right decision by the government, and the right allocation to be directed towards the fields that matter. With the right choices and commitment, medical stability will no longer be a distant hope, but a reality Nigerians can trust.
This is part of my extended effort in making the world a better place through innovation, science and technology.
Eugene Nanven a public affairs commentator writes from Abuja 18th December 2025
