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, hepatitis B and other health conditions.
The products were unveiled on Tuesday in Lagos by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, during an official visit to the agency. The minister also met with captains of industry in the pharmaceutical sector to discuss the commercialisation of the locally developed medicines.
According to the NNMDA, the agency has developed more than 22 herbal products from indigenous medicinal plants since 2023 as part of efforts to provide affordable, homegrown healthcare solutions and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines.
Speaking at the event, Udeh said Nigeria possesses thousands of medicinal plants that, if properly harnessed, could provide effective treatments for many diseases affecting the population.
He noted that traditional medicine has served indigenous communities for centuries and pledged the Federal Government’s support in addressing the challenges facing the agency, particularly inadequate funding and the need for expanded research infrastructure.
The minister announced plans to facilitate the establishment of a Clinical Observational Research Centre at the agency’s headquarters without waiting for the 2027 budget, adding that alternative funding sources would be explored to fast-track the project.
He also commended the agency for its research into natural medicines for tropical diseases and conditions such as malaria, sickle cell disease, diabetes and erectile dysfunction.
“The resolution after the meeting with captains of industry is that Nigeria has the potential to produce and export natural medicines worth billions of dollars while meeting the healthcare needs of Nigerians,” Udeh said.
Director-General of the NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, said advances in scientific research and standardisation have strengthened confidence in herbal medicine by ensuring proper dosage and quality.
He explained that the seven products unveiled include Namdavir for hepatitis B, Namdacid for peptic ulcer disease, Turmegol for the prevention and management of colorectal, ovarian and prostate cancers, Namdorol for high cholesterol and hypertension, Namgor, an aphrodisiac, and Zobo Tea for hypertension.
According to Emeje, Turmegol has demonstrated the potential to halt the progression of cancers or eliminate early cancer cells, while Namdavir has shown strong activity against the hepatitis B virus.
He added that one of the newly developed products could generate up to 3.5 million jobs when fully commercialised across its value chain, stressing that Nigeria must shift from importing medicines to developing and exporting indigenous pharmaceutical products.
Emeje, who also serves as Co-Chair of the World Health Organization’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, called on the Federal Government to deepen research through clinical trials by establishing the proposed Clinical Observational Research Centre.
Also speaking, India’s Consul General in Lagos, Shri Kannan, said Nigeria and India have significant opportunities to collaborate in traditional medicine through medicinal plant research, scientific validation, quality assurance, biodiversity conservation, academic exchange and innovation.
He noted that both countries possess rich biodiversity and centuries-old healing traditions that can contribute meaningfully to modern healthcare.