From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
The Ondo State government owned University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) Ondo has revealed how Nigeria can exploit the global market of medicinal plants.
This is already estimated at $100 billion, which may also worth about $5 trillion by 2050.
This was disclosed at the African Traditional Medicine Day organized by the Centre for Herbal Medicine and Drug Discovery of the university.
In a paper entitled “Development and Promotion of Indigenous Medicinal Plants to facilitate universal healthcare in Nigeria”, the keynote speaker, Mrs Zainab Shariff, a pharmacist, emphasized the need for value addition to the existing medicinal plants in Nigeria so as to make them exportable.
The current reality, according to her is that “Nigeria is not indicated in the export of medicinal plants despite its large biodiversity.”
She called for the cultivation of medicinal plants and production of NAFDAC listed herbal medicines, just as she encouraged the introduction of post graduate programme in herbal medicin.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Adesegun Fatusi, while speaking at the event said the university is already taking the lead in the direction of one of the way forwards suggested by the keynote speaker, particularly in the implementation of Ph.D in Herbal Medicine.
He disclosed that “as part of the fall outs of the institution’s exposure to the benefits of herbal medicine, the university has established the department of Complementary Alternative Medicine that will begin a B.Sc. programme in October 2024”.
The Acting Director, Centre for Herbal Medicine and Drug Discovery; Dr Oghale Ovuakporie-Uvo in her welcome address reinforced the university’s commitment to the exploration of herbal medicine to facilitate universal healthcare.
“An understanding of the empirical basis and rational application of Indigenous traditional medicine, particularly folk and traditional medicinal practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts (herbalism) are crucial for holistic health in the African context,” he said.
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