Global pharmaceutical firm Merck opens office in Nigeria

Global pharmaceutical and technology company Merck said on Wednesday that it has opened an office in Nigeria, its first in the African nation.

“Nigeria is an evident choice for us," Merck CEO-elect Stefan Oschmann said. "With a population that is known for its entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ideas, this is a perfect match with Merck.

“Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and we believe that through our high-quality and innovative health care and life science specialty products and services, we can contribute to that growth,” Oschmann said.

The Nigerian office is part of the company's initiative to increase its African footprint.

“Nigeria is a very important market for us, and this will only increase in the coming years," Charles Ajibo, Merck Serono's manager for Nigeria, said. "We plan to expand our current portfolio in a steady pace and introduce many more products that are targeted to the unmet medical needs of Nigerian patients and help them improve their daily lives."