Nigeria positions for role as emerging hub for responsible regenerative medicine – Akinware

L-R: John Aigbonahan, Medbury medical services divisional head; Piyawat Ratchapolsitte, vice chairman of the board, independent director, Medeze Group, Thailand; Veerapol Khemarangsan director, Medeze Group; Akin Abayomi, honourable commissioner of health, Lagos State; Itunu Akinware, group CEO, Medbury Healthcare Group; Femi Omololu, permanent secretary of health, District VI: Pharm Yewande Adekoya, divisional head, Medbury Pharmaceuticals; Kunle Ayanbisi, chief financial officer, Medbury Healthcare group

Nigeria is positioning itself as a potential regional hub for responsible regenerative and longevity medicine, as healthcare leaders push to align innovation with global clinical and ethical standards, Itunu Akinware, chief executive officer of Medbury Healthcare Group, has said.

Speaking at the Regenerative Medicine Clinic Conference organised by Medlyfe Wellness and Regenerative Medicine Centre – a Medbury subsidiary – Akinware stressed the need to anchor innovation within robust patient safety frameworks and clinical governance structures. The conference, themed “Shaping the Future of Medicine,” was held recently at Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Akinware said the initiative reflects a deliberate effort to position Nigeria as a credible destination for regenerative medicine, longevity science, and biobanking infrastructure development, supported by strong ethical and regulatory oversight.

“The future of medicine lies in innovation that is evidence-based, ethically governed, and capable of transforming patient care,” she said. “This conference underscores our commitment to local capacity building while facilitating the transfer of global expertise into Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem.”

She noted that regenerative and longevity medicine represent one of healthcare’s most critical frontiers but require careful integration into national health priorities to ensure sustainability and public trust.

Reinforcing this position, Adedotun Ajelabi, head of medical services at Medlyfe, said the centre is positioning itself not only as a clinical provider but as a strategic convener shaping how advanced therapies are introduced into Nigeria’s healthcare system.

“Our responsibility extends beyond treatment delivery to providing leadership on how emerging therapies can be safely and effectively integrated into mainstream healthcare,” Ajelabi said.

The conference drew international participation, including representatives from Thailand’s Medeze Group, a biotechnology and biobanking firm exploring potential market entry and strategic partnerships in Nigeria. Veerapol Khemarangsann and Piyawat Ratchapolsitte of Medeze shared global best practices in cell banking, regenerative therapy applications, and sustainable biotechnology infrastructure models tailored to emerging markets.

A major highlight of the event was a technical session led by Chris Paulus, executive director of the American Board of Regenerative Medicine, who outlined international practice benchmarks. Paulus emphasised the importance of physician credentialing, clear differentiation between regulated therapies and experimental interventions, and strong professional accountability frameworks.

His remarks reinforced calls for Nigeria to align its evolving regenerative medicine ecosystem with internationally recognised clinical standards.

In a message delivered to delegates, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, reiterated the state government’s support for healthcare innovation, particularly in emerging areas such as regenerative and preventive medicine.

“Lagos State recognises the transformative potential of healthcare innovation. Platforms such as this are critical for knowledge exchange, professional capacity building, and ensuring that new medical frontiers develop within strong regulatory frameworks,” Abayomi said.

He also highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration between private healthcare providers and public sector regulators to strengthen quality standards and future-ready health services.

The conference concluded with a multispecialty roundtable focused on cross-border collaboration, physician training pathways, referral systems, and regulatory ecosystem development. Medlyfe Wellness said it plans to deepen partnerships with global institutions, policymakers, and healthcare stakeholders to support the expansion of regenerative medicine and longevity science in Nigeria.

Stephen Onyekwelu is BusinessDay’s Strategy & Enterprise Delivery Executive, specialising in turning editorial vision into enterprise outcomes. A former Online News Editor and lead of the Go Local initiative (print, podcast & BDTV in partnership with Providus Bank), he blends investigative storytelling with platform strategy, conference design, and cross-functional delivery.

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