By Bashir Bello
In a landmark event that signals a transformative leap for Nigeria’s healthcare diagnostics, the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) officially received the upgraded National External Quality Assessment Laboratory (NEQAL) in Saye, Zaria.
The handover ceremony, held on Monday, December 16, 2025, brought together key stakeholders from government, development partners, and the medical laboratory community.
Delivering his address, Dr. Donald Ibe Ofili, Acting Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of MLSCN, described the event as “far more than the completion of an infrastructure project.”
He emphasized that the upgraded NEQAL facility represents a decisive step in strengthening quality assurance, patient safety, and diagnostic excellence across Nigeria’s medical laboratory system.
Dr. Ofili expressed deep appreciation to the Federal Government for its sustained investment in the health sector, noting that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has provided a purposeful framework for health system reform.
He commended the leadership of the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and the Honourable Minister of State for Health for translating this vision into tangible outcomes.
He also commended the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), led by Dr. Temitope Ilori, for its stewardship in managing the Global Fund RSSH2 and C19RM Grants.
The acting registrar also extended gratitude to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Global Fund for their commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS and Tuberclosis and for supporting NEQAL’s initial launch in 2009, and to the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) for its sustained technical support.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, who was represented by the Chairman of Zaria Local Government Area Engineer Jamil Ahmed Jaga praised NACA and Dr. Ilori for their exemplary leadership in upgrading the laboratory. He noted that the project aligns with the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The speaker reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting healthcare infrastructure through legislation, appropriation, and oversight.
“A healthy nation is a wealthy nation,” he declared, pledging continued collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, NACA, MLSCN, and other stakeholders to ensure universal access to quality healthcare.
Dr. Tajudeen also acknowledged the Global Fund’s vital role in strengthening Nigeria’s diagnostic capacity, particularly in the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria.
Also speaking at the event, the Director General of National Aids Control Agency NACA, Temitope Ilori, who was represented by NACA’s Acting Director, Finance and Admin, Mallam Mustapha Yau, thanked all the development partners and stakeholders for their vision in supporting the upgrade and handover of the facility noting that the facility is of international standard.
The completion and handover of the upgraded NEQAL facility marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s pursuit of diagnostic excellence through robust infrastructure, international partnerships.
