Bayelsa State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BioCubaFarma Consortium of the Republic of Cuba for the establishment of vaccines and pharmaceuticals production plant in the state.

This follows a three-day investment visit to Cuba by the state, led by the Governor, Douye Diri.

At a ceremony in Havana, Cuban capital, Commissioner for Health in Bayelsa State, Dr. Pabara Newton Igwele, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investments, Patience Ranami Abah, signed for the government while the First Vice President of BioCubaFarma, Dr. Mayda Mauri Pérez, signed for the consortium.

A statement by the Director, New Media to the governor, Dr. Kola Oredipe, indicates that the partnership is in furtherance of an earlier bilateral agreement signed between Nigeria and Cuba on scientific cooperation, technology transfer, academic collaboration and co-production of vaccines and other pharmacological products in the country.

Cuba has lately joined the league of nations that have gained international recognition for its medical breakthroughs and advancements.

At the signing ceremony witnessed by Diri, the state commissioner for health said the partnership marked a milestone in the quest of the government to attract investments into the state.

“This is a good development for us in Bayelsa State. The vaccines and other pharmaceutical products are in high demand in Nigeria and beyond. With the centre here, Bayelsa can serve other states and nations in the West African sub-region. In the next few months, the technical teams from both sides will work out further details of the agreement with the technical teams from both end,” he stated.

The commissioner added that the vaccines and pharmaceuticals production centre would provide job opportunities, build expertise of young Bayelsans and also ensure technology transfer for sustainability of the plant.