The Federal Government has unveiled a new initiative aimed at harnessing Nigeria’s rich biodiversity through the development of the phytomedicine value chain, with the goal of driving economic growth and enhancing healthcare delivery.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, inaugurated a ministerial committee to steer the initiative, describing it as a strategic step towards integrating traditional medicine into the country’s formal economic and healthcare systems.
According to Salako, while medicinal plants have long played a role in traditional healing across Nigerian communities, their economic and therapeutic potential has remained largely untapped.
“This initiative is both a health and socio-economic policy. It supports the administration’s broader goals of achieving Universal Health Coverage, creating jobs, and driving economic diversification,” he said.
He added that the commercialisation of the phytomedicine sector would create employment opportunities in plant conservation, cultivation, harvesting, and large-scale production of herbal medicinal products, allowing Nigeria to tap into the growing global phytomedicine market.
The newly inaugurated ministerial committee will be responsible for developing a commercialisation framework, proposing policy reforms, and creating a strong regulatory structure to ensure product safety, efficacy, and business viability.
Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr Obi Adigwe, highlighted the urgency of Nigeria’s active participation in the global phytomedicine industry, estimated at nearly 500 million dollars.
“For a country blessed with such a wealth of natural resources, continued underrepresentation in this market is no longer acceptable,” Adigwe said.
He noted that recent government policies, including the Presidential Initiative to Unlock Value Chains and the Executive Order on Pharma and Allied Sectors, had created a conducive environment for growth in the sector. He added that NIPRD’s years of research and evidence-based work had laid the groundwork for scaling up Nigerian phytomedicines in local and international markets.
Correspondent reports that phytomedicine refers to medicinal products derived from plants and their extracts—such as roots and barks—used in treating and managing conditions like malaria and diabetes. In Nigeria, traditional remedies such as neem leaf extract for ulcers and bitter leaf or scent leaf for respiratory ailments are increasingly recognised for their potential in both therapeutic use and commercial application.
Globally, phytomedicines such as Echinacea and Ginseng are widely known for their immune-boosting and energy-enhancing properties, showcasing the opportunities for merging traditional remedies with modern health and economic systems.
(NAN)