Obi Peter Adigwe

Obi Peter Adigwe is a Nigerian pharmacist and a doctor of pharmaceutical policy.[1] He was appointed the Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) with effect from 10 August 2018 [2][3] by the former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. Before his appointment as NIPRD boss, he was the Executive Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers' Association of Nigeria and holds a Doctor of Pharmaceutical Policy at

Obi Peter Adigwe

Director-General/Chief Executive Officer National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development

the University of Leeds, United Kingdom.

Dr. Adigwe was the pioneer Head of the Health Policy Research and Development (HPRD) Unit at the National Assembly (Nigeria), where he formulated research and development strategies in Health Policy with a view to developing an Evidence-Based approach to Legislation and Policy formulation in Nigeria. He also developed innovative and contextual capacity-building modules for Healthcare Professionals, as well as coordinated research that contributed to Health System strengthening. He has a significant number of peer-reviewed publications including the first Knowledge Attitudes and Perceptions study on Ebola in Nigeria, as well as a seminal paper on Rational Use of Medicines. While in the United Kingdom, he was the lead author of the article “Rewrite the Script for Non-medical Prescribing” which contributed to prescribing policy reforms in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Throughout his career, Adigwe has pioneered a significant number of innovative research and developmental projects. He led teams that secured various high-profile grants including a Clinical Trials Grant from the ECOWAS, an API Grant from African Export–Import Bank, a Drug Development Mega Grant from Tertiary Education Trust Fund and a European Union / Government of Bulgaria Grant supporting Local Production of Vaccines in the Nigerian setting. Based on the NIPRD study led by Dr Adigwe, the European Union EU announced the award of an €18m grant to Nigeria,[4] as a catalyst for vaccines research.

Adigwe, identified as the unsung hero championing African capacity in phytomedicine development, led the analysis that underpinned Nigeria]]'s position on the Madagascar COVID-19 cure. Alongside like-minded colleagues, he worked behind the scenes on world-class research that helped combat the coronavirus in Nigeria. Post-covid, his work continues to drive innovation, especially interventions aimed at improving health outcomes whilst also enabling the achievement of key socioeconomic objectives.

He was appointed by Iziaq Adekunle Salako, to lead the Nigerian Ministerial Committee on the development and commercialization of phytomedicines value chain.

Dr. Adigwe has championed contextual engagements across the African continent, demonstrating a keen Pan-African approach to contextualizing international solutions for local issues. He led the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development in engaging with Department of Science and Innovation and the National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (CIKS) based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). This culminated in a partnership to promote research and development, including human capital development in the Phytomedicine Value Chain.

He has engaged important continental entities to advance the development of contextual solutions to African problems. Among these are the Eswatini Epilepsy Organization for a game-changing symposium at the Eswatini Medical Christian University, turning indigenous plants into life-saving medicines; the University of Botswana for Bioinformatics and Genomics Sequencing research; and the Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Manpong-Akuapem, Ghana for collaboration in critical aspects of phytomedicines and drug development. These, amongst other interventions, informed the pan-African book publication titled “A Contextual Exploration of Phytomedicines' Development in Africa”.

Dr. Obi Peter Adigwe has headed and served on numerous Committees and Expert Working Groups at both national and international levels, including the D8, United Nations, World Health Organisation [WHO], The African Union and ECOWAS. He was recently appointed Chair of the Ministerial Committee for the Commercialization of Phytomedicine value chain in Nigeria [5] and advocacy lead for SPARK Global on a translational research in Africa [6] Dr. Adigwe was conferred with Nigeria's highest Productivity Award by the President of Nigeria in recognition of his hard work, productivity and excellence in National Developmental Initiatives. Adigwe is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy, the West African Institute of Public Health, the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, as well as the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

## Education

Obi Adigwe attended University of Jos, Jos, obtaining a bachelor's degree in pharmacy in 2000. He proceeded to the University of Edinburgh, UK and obtained MSc in Global Health and Public Policy in 2008 and a Doctorate degree (PhD) in Pharmaceutical Policy from the University of Leeds, UK, in 2012.[7]

## Career

Obi Adigwe started his career as a pharmacist at the National Assembly (Nigeria)'s Pharmacy Department, FCT, Abuja Nigeria, in 2005 and remained there till 2007. He proceeded to become the Senior Project Officer at the Pharmacy Department Unit at University of Leeds, United Kingdom, from 2010 to 2012.[8] From 2012 to 2015, he was the head of the Health Policy Research and Development Unit at the National Assembly (Nigeria) (NASS), FCT, Abuja, Nigeria, where he formulated research and development strategies across multiple policy areas and also authored write-ups to disseminate findings from research projects.

On 14 June 2022, Adigwe was reappointed as the Director General of National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD).[9] Adigwe has mentored over 80 PhD and MSc candidates, and 100 Pharmacists. Adigwe has more than 82 scientific presentations. He chaired and contributed to the COVID-19 pandemic response, by providing an internationally acclaimed analysis that was recognized by the Nigerian Government and positioned the country on the Madagascan Covid Organics preparation.[10]

## References

1. ↑ "FG Reappoints Adigwe as DG NIPRD". https://www.health.gov.ng/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=853:fg-reappoints-adigwe-as-dg-niprd&Itemid=510.
2. ↑ "FG Appoints Adigwe as DG NIPRD – VANGUARDNG". Vanguard (Lagos, Nigeria). https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/fg-appoints-aidgwe-director-general-niprid/.
3. ↑ "FG Appoints Adigwe NIPRD Director General – INDEPENDENTNG". Independent (Lagos, Nigeria). https://independent.ng/fg-appoints-adigwe-niprd-director-general/.
4. ↑ "EU To Invest €18m In Vaccine Research In Nigeria". Leadership. https://leadership.ng/eu-to-invest-e18m-in-vaccine-research-in-nigeria/#:~:text=The European Union (EU) has,and Local Production 2024-2034.
5. ↑ "FG Moves To Unlock Economic Health Potential Of Phytomedicine Sector". https://sciencenigeria.com/fg-moves-to-unlock-economic-health-potential-of-phytomedical-sector/.
6. ↑ "Nigeria to Host SPARK Translational Research Bootcamp and Launch SPARK Nigeria Program". https://x.com/PVAC_NG/status/1940351805436658172.
7. ↑ "Dr Peter Obi Adigwe biography – Orcid". https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8832-6459.
8. ↑ "Obi Peter Adigwe Profile – HSJ for Healthcare Leaders". https://www.hsj.co.uk/obi-peter-adigwe/1202711.bio.
9. ↑ "FG Appoints Adigwe NIPRD Director General – INDEPENDENTNG". Independent (Lagos, Nigeria). https://independent.ng/fg-appoints-adigwe-niprd-director-general/.
10. ↑ "Interview - How NIPRD is supporting Nigeria's fight against covid-19 – Premiumtimesng". Premium Times. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-features/435877-interview-how-niprd-is-supporting-nigerias-fight-against-covid-19-dg.html?tztc=1.

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