The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is a Nigerian government agency established in 1993.
Its major function is to ensure the safety and quality of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and packaged water in Nigeria.
NAFDAC regulates these products by controlling their manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, and sale.
The agency conducts inspections, tests, and certifications to confirm that products meet health and safety standards. NAFDAC also works to fight fake drugs and promote public awareness about safe health practices.
Over the years, NAFDAC has been led by different Directors-General who have contributed to its growth. However, here’s a list of all Directors-General of NAFDAC from its establishment to the present:
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| Name | Position | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Professor Gabriel Ediale Osuide | Director-General | 1994 - 2000 |
| Dr. Dora Nkem Akunyili | Director-General | 2001 - 2008 |
| Dr. Paul Baba Orhii | Director-General | 2009 - 2016 |
| Mrs. Yetunde Oni | Acting Director-General | 2016 - 2017 |
| Mr. Ademola Andrew Magbojuri | Acting Director-General | 2017 (briefly) |
| Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye | Director-General | 2017 - Present |
Who Is The First Director General Of NAFDAC?
Professor Gabriel Ediale Osuide was the first Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), serving from 1994 to 2000.
Born on March 15, 1935, Professor Osuide was a respected academic and expert in the field of pharmaceuticals in Nigeria.
He studied Pharmacology at the University of London, and he graduated with First Class Honours in 1963. Later, he earned a PhD in Pharmacology.
However, he was the head of the Food and Drugs Administration and Control (FDAC) Department at the Federal Ministry of Health, before he became the first DG of NAFDAC.
Professor Osuide was also known for helping to create the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria.
He also served in different leadership positions at the university, including as Dean, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Acting Vice-Chancellor.
During his time as the NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Osuide worked hard to provide the safety of food and drugs in Nigeria.
Aside from his professional work, Professor Osuide trained many successful pharmacists, such as former Taraba State Governor, Pharm. Danbaba Suntai, and Niger State’s Deputy Governor, Dr. S. Z. Nuhu.
Who Is The First Female Director Of NAFDAC In Nigeria?
Dr. Dora Nkem Akunyili was the second Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Nigeria and the first woman to hold this position.
She served from 2001 to 2008 and is remembered as one of the most impactful leaders in NAFDAC’s history. Born on July 14, 1954, in Makurdi, Benue State, Akunyili studied Pharmacology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and graduated in 1978.
She later earned a PhD in Ethno-Pharmacology in 1985. Dr. Dora Nkem Akunyili was a senior lecturer and consultant at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and served as zonal secretary for the Petroleum Special Trust Fund.
During her time as NAFDAC DG, Akunyili focused on eliminating fake drugs and unsafe food from Nigeria. Under her leadership, counterfeit drugs in Nigeria dropped from over 50% to 16.7%.
In fact, she earned international recognition, including the Grassroots Human Rights Campaigner Award in 2005. After her time at NAFDAC, Akunyili served as Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Communication from 2008 to 2010.
She also pursued a political career, running for a Senate seat in Anambra State. Sadly, Dr. Akunyili passed away on June 7, 2014, after a battle with cancer.
Who Is The Current NAFDAC Director General?
Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye is the current Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Nigeria.
She was first appointed in November 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari and reappointed for a second term in December 2022. She is the 6th NAFDAC DG. Professor Adeyeye is an expert in pharmaceutical research and regulatory science.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutics from the University of Nigeria in 1976 and her Master’s and PhD from the University of Georgia, USA, in 1985 and 1988. However, she became a Professor of Pharmaceutics in 2003.
She also taught at Duquesne University in the USA for 21 years and also worked as the Founding Chair of the Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences at Roosevelt University, Chicago.
Professor Adeyeye has made many changes. She improved the agency’s structure, updated guidelines, and encouraged local drug production. NAFDAC even achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification in 2019 and WHO Maturity Level 3 in 2022.
She also pushed for the digitalization of NAFDAC processes to make it easier for people to register and manage documents online.
Professor Adeyeye is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy, and the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, becoming the first African woman to receive this honor.
Professor Adeyeye is also involved in global health efforts, serving as Chair of the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization Steering Committee and the WHO Global Pediatric Regulatory Network.