Nigeria Launches Ministerial Committee to Boost Phytomedicine Industry
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, has inaugurated a Ministerial Committee to spearhead the development of Nigeria’s Phytomedicine Value Chain, marking a significant step in the country’s drive to diversify its economy and enhance healthcare delivery.
Nigeria, with its rich biodiversity, has for long relied on traditional herbal medicine to treat various ailments.
However, this vast resource has often been underutilised and undervalued within both the health and economic sectors.
The newly established committee aims to change that by advancing the structured commercialisation of phytomedicine, contributing not just to better healthcare, but also to job creation and economic growth.
The committee’s goals include creating a comprehensive framework for phytomedicine product development, enhancing research, and ensuring quality control and patient safety.
It also aims to foster partnerships between traditional healers, research institutions, and the private sector to turn herbal remedies into commercial successes.
Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr Obi Adigwe, emphasised the importance of regional decentralisation in research and development, highlighting plans to set up Centres of Excellence across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
These centres will drive local innovation, create high-value jobs, and foster industrial-scale production of phytomedicine products.
The committee’s work is expected to align with global standards, boost Nigeria’s participation in the growing global herbal medicine market, and support the country’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage.
