Mbah unveils multi-billion naira pharmaceutical company in Enugu

Governor Mbah and the Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke (Rtd)

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has commissioned Anchorage Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, a multi-billion naira pharmaceutical company in Trans-Ekulu, Enugu.

The coming on stream of the company is expected to boost local drug manufacturing, create jobs and strengthen healthcare delivery in the country.

This was even as the Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke (Rtd), commended Mbah for creating an investment-friendly environment in the state, describing Anchorage as a legacy project conceived to generate employment, develop local talent and contribute to economic development.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, Mbah said the facility represented more than a pharmaceutical business, describing it as an investment in public health, economic growth and the future of young people in the state.

The governor congratulated the company’s founder, board and management, noting that establishing a manufacturing enterprise required substantial commitment and confidence in the state’s economic prospects.

He said the facility would provide employment opportunities, offer internship placements and facilitate skills transfer, while supporting healthcare delivery across Enugu State.

Mbah disclosed that the government would explore commercial partnerships with the company to supply medicines to its central medical stores and primary healthcare facilities.

The governor further noted that the state was building 260 Type-2 primary healthcare centres, adding that the facilities would require reliable supplies of essential medicines to function effectively.

“We are interested in made-in-Enugu, and that’s what you’re doing here,” he said, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to partnering with private enterprises beyond providing an enabling environment.

Mbah added that private capital remained central to the state’s economic growth strategy, emphasising the need to retain skilled young people by creating opportunities for them to build their careers in Enugu.

Earlier, Madueke said Anchorage was the practical expression of his longstanding conviction that private enterprise could create jobs, broaden economic opportunities and improve prosperity.

The former Chief of the Naval Staff as well as ex military governor of old Anambra and Imo States said the company would prioritise product quality, patient safety, regulatory compliance and sound corporate governance, while acknowledging the role of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in safeguarding public health.

Madueke expressed confidence that Anchorage would contribute to the development of Enugu State, the South-East and Nigeria, while thanking Mbah for commissioning the facility and building a resilient business-friendly infrastructure.

In his closing remarks, the Managing Director of the company, Engr. Chima Madueke, said the company was founded on quality and wellness, encapsulated in its slogan, “Anchored in Quality, Committed to Wellness.”

According to him, the company had obtained the necessary approvals and clearances from NAFDAC and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), reaffirming its commitment to quality assurance.

He added that Anchorage would help tackle fake and substandard medicines in Nigeria, adding that it was open to direct supplies to hospitals, healthcare institutions and pharmacies.

Meanwhile, the commissioning underscores the growing role of private-sector investment in the Mbah administration’s drive to expand Enugu’s economic base, with the governor assuring investors of continued government support to improve the business environment and enhance returns on investment.