The Federal Government has unveiled seven indigenous herbal medicines developed by the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) for the treatment and management of major diseases.
These ailments include; prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatitis B, peptic ulcer disease, hypertension and high cholesterol.
The medicines were unveiled on Tuesday during the visit of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, to the headquarters of the NNMDA in Lagos.
The development marks a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to harness Nigeria’s rich biodiversity and medicinal plant resources to produce affordable, locally developed healthcare solutions while reducing dependence on imported pharmaceuticals.
The move is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system through homegrown medical innovation.
Speaking during the unveiling, Dr. Udeh described the achievement as a testament to the country’s growing capacity for scientific research and innovation.
He said Nigeria possesses vast medicinal plant resources capable of addressing major health challenges and contributing significantly to economic growth through the commercialisation of natural medicine.
According to the minister, the government is committed to supporting the agency in overcoming funding and infrastructure challenges to accelerate research, product development and large-scale production of indigenous medicines.
He also pledged support for the establishment of a Clinical Observational Research Centre to facilitate scientific validation and wider acceptance of natural medicine products developed in the country.
The Director-General of the NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, disclosed that the agency has developed more than 22 herbal products since 2023 using indigenous medicinal plants, with the newly unveiled seven among the latest breakthroughs.
He noted that the agency is working with relevant stakeholders to commercialise the products and make them widely accessible to Nigerians after meeting all necessary regulatory requirements.
Emeje explained that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s agenda of promoting local content in healthcare and improving access to affordable medicines.
This, according to him, could position Nigeria as a leader in natural medicine research and development in Africa.
The unveiling also featured engagements with pharmaceutical manufacturers and industry stakeholders on strategies for scaling up production, strengthening partnerships and ensuring the products reach the market through appropriate regulatory processes.
While the herbal medicines have now been officially unveiled, health experts note that their widespread availability will depend on the completion of commercialisation processes and compliance with all applicable regulatory standards before distribution to the public.
