As more Nigerians turn to herbs, roots, and traditional remedies, the Federal Government says it will continue striving to achieve health equity and equality for better well-being of all citizens.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, made this known during a visit to the laboratory complex of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, NNMDA, on Victoria Island, Lagos.
The visit also saw the unveiling of seven new herbal products manufactured by the Agency.
The Minister, visibly impressed by the Agency’s recent progress, declared that meeting Nigeria’s health needs requires exploring every available option.
While unveiling the new natural medicines from the NNMDA, Dr. Udeh explained that the products will be integrated into the ongoing Energise Commercialisation Now programme, championed by the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, to turn local research and prototypes into market-ready products, scalable businesses, and jobs.
The Minister added that with commitment, proper documentation, and effective implementation, the nation’s healthcare goals can be achieved through traditional medicine.
In his welcome address, the Director General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Professor Martins Emeje, stressed that the government is not only focused on meeting domestic healthcare needs, but also on earning revenue from exporting herbal products.
He acknowledged the Agency’s challenges, including poor funding and the high costs of pre-clinical and clinical studies, but however noted that the Agency is excelling not only in providing affordable healthcare but also in creating livelihoods for the country’s youth.
Professor Emeje added that the Agency has strengthened its community-driven research.
He revealed that NNMDA is now the lead institution on a three-million-pound research grant, with Obafemi Awolowo University and Nnamdi Azikiwe University as team members.
One of the guests, India’s Consul-General in Lagos, Mr. Kannan Chockalongam, said Nigeria and India share a common heritage in traditional medicinal knowledge.
He noted that greater collaboration in the scientific validation of herbal remedies could unlock even more opportunities for human development.
The Minister unveiled seven new trado-medicines, including tablets for hepatitis, high cholesterol, ulcers, and fertility, bringing the total number of products manufactured by the Agency to over thirty-two.
Earlier, the Minister held a closed-door meeting with industry players and stakeholders to discuss collaboration and ways to improve the local medication production chain
