NASENI-TROMENT: Building Africa’s Healthcare Sovereignty Through Innovation

In the global fight against malaria and infectious diseases, access to reliable and affordable diagnostic tools remains one of the most critical determinants of success. For decades, African countries have depended heavily on imported diagnostic kits, exposing healthcare systems to supply chain disruptions, high costs, and delayed responses during public health emergencies. Nigeria is now […]

In the global fight against malaria and infectious diseases, access to reliable and affordable diagnostic tools remains one of the most critical determinants of success. For decades, African countries have depended heavily on imported diagnostic kits, exposing healthcare systems to supply chain disruptions, high costs, and delayed responses during public health emergencies.

Nigeria is now charting a different course.

The establishment of the NASENI-TROMENT Biotechnologies Factory represents a bold national investment in healthcare innovation, local manufacturing, and technological self-reliance. More importantly, it reflects a broader vision being pursued by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, and under the guidance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

That vision this week received international validation when a delegation of about 85 global medical professionals, scientists, and policymakers participating in Harvard University’s prestigious “Science of Defeating Malaria” leadership programme visited the facility in Abuja and described it as a significant contribution to the eradication of malaria and infectious diseases across Nigeria and Africa.

Led by renowned malariologist Professor Dyann F. Wirth of Harvard University, the delegation toured the state-of-the-art facility and expressed admiration for what is now regarded as a groundbreaking achievement in Africa’s healthcare manufacturing ecosystem.

The NASENI-TROMENT Biotechnologies Factory is more than an industrial facility. It is a strategic intervention designed to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare sovereignty through the local production of diagnostic technologies.

Built within just 18 months through a partnership between NASENI and Troment Nigeria Limited, the factory focuses on the production of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) and In-Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) products used for the early detection of major infectious and public health diseases.

Under the N-CheckUP brand, the facility will manufacture diagnostic kits for malaria, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, pregnancy testing, COVID-19 antigen detection, typhoid, syphilis, blood glucose monitoring, and other critical health conditions.

With an annual production capacity of 600 million diagnostic kits, the factory is positioned not only to meet Nigeria’s healthcare needs but also to serve markets across West Africa and the broader African continent.

This aligns perfectly with NASENI’s transformation agenda under Khalil Suleiman Halilu, which seeks to move the agency beyond research and development into commercialization, local manufacturing, and strategic technology transfer.

One of the most significant challenges confronting Africa’s healthcare sector has been the continent’s dependence on imported medical products. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities associated with this dependence, as countries struggled to secure critical medical supplies amid global shortages and export restrictions.

The NASENI-TROMENT Factory directly addresses this challenge.

By localizing the production of diagnostic kits, Nigeria is reducing dependence on foreign manufacturers, conserving foreign exchange, creating high-value jobs, and building indigenous technical capacity. This approach reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader economic vision of strengthening domestic production, deepening industrialization, and creating resilient value chains capable of supporting national development.

For NASENI, it is another practical demonstration of how science, technology, and engineering can be deployed to solve real national challenges. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the project is its continental significance.

According to the technical partners behind the initiative, the facility is Africa’s first fully localized Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) manufacturing factory. From concept design to full-scale production, the entire value chain has been developed within Africa for African healthcare needs. This achievement positions Nigeria as a strategic hub for healthcare manufacturing and innovation on the continent.

At a time when African governments are increasingly prioritizing health security and local pharmaceutical production, the factory offers a model for how public-private partnerships can accelerate technological advancement and industrial growth.

The facility also complements ongoing efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by creating products that can serve regional markets while strengthening intra-African trade. The significance of diagnostic testing in disease control cannot be overstated.

Early diagnosis remains one of the most effective tools for reducing disease transmission, improving treatment outcomes, and lowering mortality rates. For malaria, which continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually—mostly in Africa—access to accurate and affordable testing is essential to achieving elimination goals.

By dramatically increasing the availability of high-quality diagnostic kits, the NASENI-TROMENT Factory strengthens the capacity of healthcare systems to identify, monitor, and respond to diseases more effectively. The commendation from Harvard University’s malaria experts underscores the global relevance of this initiative and its potential contribution to international efforts aimed at defeating malaria and other infectious diseases.

Since assuming office, Khalil Suleiman Halilu has championed a new direction for NASENI built around commercialization, collaboration, and creation—the agency’s 3Cs strategy. Under his leadership, NASENI has accelerated investments in renewable energy, agricultural mechanization, electric mobility, digital technologies, healthcare manufacturing, and emerging technologies.

The NASENI-TROMENT Factory stands as one of the clearest examples of this transformation. It demonstrates how a government agency traditionally associated with research can evolve into a catalyst for industrial development, private sector collaboration, and national competitiveness.

By focusing on projects that address real societal needs while creating economic value, NASENI is helping to position Nigeria as a producer of technology rather than merely a consumer. The story of the NASENI-TROMENT Biotechnologies Factory is ultimately a story about confidence—confidence in African innovation, confidence in local talent, and confidence in the continent’s ability to solve its own challenges.

As Nigeria continues its journey toward industrialization and technological advancement, initiatives like this will become increasingly important in shaping a future where critical healthcare solutions are developed and manufactured locally. The recognition from Harvard University’s global health experts is not merely an endorsement of a factory; it is a validation of a vision.

A vision championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and driven by the leadership of Khalil Suleiman Halilu at NASENI—a vision where innovation serves humanity, technology drives development, and Nigeria emerges as a continental leader in healthcare manufacturing and scientific advancement.

The NASENI-TROMENT Biotechnologies Factory is not just producing diagnostic kits. It is helping to produce a healthier, more self-reliant, and more prosperous future for Nigeria and Africa.