In a major push to advance local pharmaceutical innovation, the Federal Government has unveiled seven herbal medicines developed by the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) for the treatment and management of prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, peptic ulcer disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and hepatitis B.
According to the NNMDA, more than 22 herbal products have been developed from indigenous medicinal plants since 2023 to address Nigerians’ health needs locally.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, unveiled the herbal products during an official visit to the agency in Lagos on Tuesday.
He also met with captains of industry in the pharmaceutical sector to discuss the commercialisation of the products.
Udeh said Nigeria is richly endowed with thousands of medicinal plants which, if effectively harnessed, could provide solutions to the diverse health conditions affecting Nigerians.
The minister noted that traditional medicine had, for centuries, met the healthcare needs of indigenous communities, while disclosing the Federal Government’s readiness to address the major challenges confronting the agency to enable it to do more.
Udeh also promised to facilitate the establishment of a Clinical Observational Research Centre, as requested by the agency’s leadership, in addition to addressing the challenge of inadequate funding.
The minister commended the leadership and staff of the agency for their research and development of natural medicines for tropical diseases and other health conditions, including malaria, sickle cell disease, erectile dysfunction and diabetes.
“The resolution after the meeting with captains of industry in the pharmaceutical sector is that Nigeria has the potential to produce and export natural medicines worth billions of dollars.
“Billions of naira can also be generated by the agency through the production of natural medicines while meeting the healthcare needs of Nigerians.
“We are going to move immediately and innovatively after this unveiling to establish the Clinical Observational Research Centre without waiting for funding from the 2027 budget.
“We are going to identify alternative ways of generating funds to build the centre,” Udeh said.
Earlier, while presenting the agency’s activities, ongoing research and medicinal plants cultivated across the country, some of which were used to develop the seven herbal products unveiled by the minister, the Director-General of NNMDA, Prof Martins Emeje, said the efficacy of herbal medicine was no longer in doubt, stressing that standardisation now ensured proper dosage.
Emeje, who is the Co-Chair of the World Health Organisation’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, expressed excitement over the unveiling of the products, noting that traditional medicines are now being produced in standard dosage forms such as capsules, tablets and syrups.
“We want to change the narrative of drug importation in Nigeria. We must develop our medicines and export them.
“One of the products launched here today, when fully developed across the value chain, has the capacity to generate 3.5 million jobs.
“There was also a business meeting with captains of industry in the pharmaceutical sector,” the professor of Pharmacy said.
Emeje, a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy, said the agency had made significant progress in developing herbal medicines from indigenous medicinal plants to address the country’s healthcare needs.
He urged the Federal Government to deepen research through clinical trials by establishing a Clinical Observational Research Centre at the agency’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Providing insight into the seven herbal products unveiled by the government, the NNMDA boss said, “First, we have a product for the Hepatitis B virus. It is a natural medicine developed from an indigenous medicinal plant. The product is highly active against the Hepatitis B virus and is called Namdavir.
“The second product launched today is for the management of peptic ulcer disease. It is called Namdacid. Ulcer is a major health challenge in our communities.”
Emeje said the third product is used in the management and prevention of cancers such as colorectal, ovarian and prostate cancers.
According to him, it is produced from Nigerian medicinal plants and has shown the potential to prevent these cancers.
“We have scientific evidence that it can stop the progression of cancers or eliminate early cancer cells. It is called Turmegol.
“We also developed a natural medicine for high cholesterol. It cleanses the system and is effective in the management of hypertension. We have investigated its efficacy. It is called Namdorol.
“We also unveiled Namgor, an aphrodisiac, and Zobo Tea for the management of hypertension,” the researcher said.
The Consul General of India in Lagos, Shri Kannan, said there were enormous opportunities for India and Nigeria to collaborate in the field of traditional medicine.
“Our institutions can collaborate in medicinal plant research, scientific validation of traditional medicines, standardisation and quality assurance, biodiversity conservation, capacity building, academic exchanges, entrepreneurship, and innovation in natural products.
“India and Nigeria are two ancient civilisations blessed with rich biodiversity, deep cultural heritage and centuries-old healing traditions,” Kannan said.
He added that both countries possess invaluable indigenous knowledge systems that have served their societies for generations and continue to provide important solutions for modern healthcare.
