NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Receives Special Commendation Award At UK House Of Lords

Mary Nnah

Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, FAS, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has been presented with the Special African Leadership Commendation Award at the 16th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA).

The event was held at the House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, London, on July 3, 2026.

The award, conferred by the Global Advisory Board of the African Leadership Organisation (ALO), recognises Prof. Adeyeye’s extraordinary contributions to regulatory science, public health, and pharmaceutical governance across Africa.

From “Good For Nothing” To Global Excellence

When Prof. Adeyeye assumed office in November 2017, NAFDAC carried a debt of over ₦3.2 billion, had non-functional laboratories, no inspection vehicles, and was rated below WHO Maturity Level 1.

Within one year, she cleared the inherited debt through fiscal discipline alone.

Today, NAFDAC stands at WHO Maturity Level 3, successfully re-benchmarked in June 2025. This is a distinction held by only 35 percent of regulatory agencies worldwide.

The agency has also digitised 90 percent of its processes, reduced pharmaceutical importation by 70 percent, invested over ₦7 billion in laboratory equipment, and attracted partners including the Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and the European Union.

Nigeria is now the 24th member of the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH), one of only 25 members among 194 regulatory agencies worldwide.

Prof. Adeyeye also delivered a keynote address on Day One of the two-day programme at the Hilton London Metropole.
Speaking on the topic “The African University of the Future: Innovation, Relevance, and Global Competitiveness,” she received wide commendation from an assembly of African heads of state, ministers, and global business leaders.

“This Recognition Belongs To The NAFDAC Family”

Speaking after receiving her award, she said:
“I accept this honour on behalf of the dedicated men and women of NAFDAC. When I assumed office in 2017, NAFDAC was rated below the first rung of the WHO Global Benchmarking ladder. Today we stand at Maturity Level 3. This recognition belongs to every member of the NAFDAC family.”

NAFDAC is now working towards WHO Maturity Level 4 and World Listed Authority status. This would enable medicines made in Nigeria to be traded continentally and globally.