Zipline has partnered with the Federal Government to deploy drone delivery services across Nigeria, aiming to reduce maternal mortality, malnutrition, malaria, and other pressing health challenges.
The partnership, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, will be officially announced at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 26, 2024.
The goal is to transform healthcare access and equity in Nigeria by utilising drone technology to improve infrastructure, thereby overcoming barriers to economic growth and development.
The Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Zipline, Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, stated that the collaboration would bring tens of millions of dollars in foreign investment, positioning Nigeria as a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics.
He said the initiative is also expected to create future job opportunities for the country’s youth.
Cliffton further explained that the project would build a more resilient logistics system, ensuring access to high-quality, reliable healthcare for a significant portion of Nigeria’s rural population.
He said it would also enhance the health sector’s ability to respond to disasters and emergencies effectively.
“The partnership also aims to establish a sustainable financing framework, attracting commitments from global health, economic development, and climate funding bodies to set up autonomous drone infrastructure at strategic locations across Nigeria. This infrastructure will be supported by local talent, through hiring, training, and empowerment initiatives,” he stated.
Cliffton highlighted that the Gavi Vaccine Alliance and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, as early financial backers, are helping to lay the groundwork for this transformative partnership.
He said their involvement underscores a commitment to innovative, collaborative approaches, using creative financing mechanisms to improve health outcomes, particularly for young people.
The Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, emphasised that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would significantly advance the goals of the Presidential Vaccine Access Commission (PVAC).
He noted that scaling Zipline’s infrastructure nationwide would modernise and improve the quality of healthcare services, while simultaneously propelling Nigeria into an era of economic prosperity, climate resilience, and global technological leadership.
Pate, a former Global Director for Health, Nutrition, and Population at the World Bank, added that Zipline’s zero-emissions, AI-powered logistics system, combined with its commitment to local job creation, provides a pathway to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Nowhere are the benefits of on-demand drone delivery more apparent than in healthcare, particularly under SDG 3. In the areas Zipline serves, doctors and community health workers can receive blood, vaccines, drugs, and other medical supplies in as little as 10 minutes,” Pate stated.
