President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has urged Nigeria and the rest of Africa to pursue medical sovereignty through sustained investment in regenerative medicine, local research, manufacturing and innovation.

He stated that the continent must transition from being a consumer of advanced medicine to becoming a producer of cutting-edge healthcare solutions.

Dangote made the call while delivering the keynote address at the Atunse Summit in Lagos, where stakeholders from government, industry and the regulatory community examined how regenerative medicine and public-private collaboration could strengthen Nigeria’s health system, reduce dependence on imported medical technologies and position the country as a leader in Africa’s healthcare transformation.

According to him, Africa must build the capacity to prevent, detect, treat and respond to health challenges with greater confidence and self-reliance.  He described medical sovereignty as not only a healthcare aspiration, but also a strategic development priority.

Dangote said countries that can protect the health of their populations are better positioned to strengthen their economies, retain skilled professionals, attract investment and respond effectively during public health emergencies.

Drawing comparisons with countries such as India, Brazil, China and Indonesia, he said deliberate investments in science, technology transfer and policy consistency have enabled those nations to strengthen their health industries.

He, however, stressed that innovation must translate into affordable and accessible healthcare for ordinary citizens rather than remain concentrated in elite hospitals and urban centres.

Also speaking at the summit, the President and Chairman of Atunse Healthcare Ltd., Prof. Kamar Adeleke, said the company was established to reverse the long-standing trend of Africans travelling abroad for advanced medical treatment.

He added that although the initiative is beginning in Lagos, its vision is to build healthcare capacity across the continent.

The Chief Executive Officer of Atunse Healthcare Ltd., Dr. Sola Oluwole, said Nigeria loses not only money through medical tourism, but also valuable demand, investment and clinical expertise, stressing that Atunse intends to build integrated capabilities for treatment, manufacturing, distribution and workforce development within the country.

Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, described regenerative medicine as one of healthcare’s most promising frontiers, adding that investments such as Atunse could encourage experienced Nigerian doctors and scientists abroad to return home.

Abayomi added that Lagos State is strengthening digital health through its Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP), noting that integrating health data, technology, specialists and private-sector investment would improve planning, innovation and the delivery of advanced healthcare services.

Representing the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),
The agency’s Director of Vaccine, Biologics, and Medical Devices Registration and Regulation (VBM-R&R) Directorate, Mrs. Khadijah Ade-Abolade, said regenerative medicine presents enormous opportunities but requires rigorous regulation because biologics and cell-based therapies differ significantly from conventional medicines.

Ade-Abolade noted that NAFDAC is committed to supporting innovation while ensuring that regenerative products meet strict standards of safety, quality and efficacy through comprehensive scientific review, ethical clinical trials, stringent manufacturing oversight and post-market surveillance.

NAFDAC pledged to continue supporting credible researchers and local manufacturers while taking enforcement actions against operators promoting unapproved regenerative therapies. The agency insisted that innovation must never come at the expense of patient safety.