… Projects over 3.8m jobs from indigenous medicine development

..Champions indigenous knowledge for health security

By Chioma Obinna

The Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency NNMDA, is embarking on an ambitious journey to develop bespoke natural medicine remedies for each of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas, an initiative poised to unlock significant economic and cultural benefits for the nation.

To this end, NNMDA has presented indigenous health products aimed at addressing diseases such as malaria.

Presenting this bold vision to the media during the Director-General of NNMDA, two years in office in Lagos, Professor Martins Emeje, highlighted the agency’s remarkable strides in advancing traditional medicine, aligning with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He passionately advocated for stronger governmental backing for the natural medicine sector, underscoring its immense potential to create millions of jobs by drastically reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported drugs.

“We will identify the local medicinal plants or animal-based remedies used to treat key diseases, as we have done in Lagos.

 “If state governments allocate just 10 percent of their established resources towards developing these local solutions, we can create a national field of practice where raw materials are cultivated, processed into medicines, and disseminated locally. We call this process drug creation for the well-being of the people.”

Decrying what he termed a lingering colonial influence in Nigeria’s educational and healthcare systems, the NNMDA boss championed the urgent need for the recognition and modernization of indigenous knowledge.

He detailed ongoing efforts to digitize the database of traditional practitioners and establish formal training programs rooted in local languages and practices.

Emeje painted a vivid picture of Nigeria’s vast untapped economic potential in natural resources. “A modest estimate shows that developing just one local plant into a usable pharmaceutical can generate up to 3.8 million jobs.

 “How? Because the same plants used in imported white tablets and powders are grown in foreign fields, processed abroad, and sold back to us. In essence, we are paying the salaries of millions of people in other countries through our drug imports. It is time to reverse that — to create those jobs here, with our own resources, for our own people.”

He lauded a recent legislative victory for indigenous medicine. “This is why the Nigerian House of Representatives took a bold step. They passed a resolution that natural medicine should no longer be referred to as ‘alternative medicine’ to foreign drugs. It now has legal recognition. Our traditional medicine is not alternative — it is mainstream for 416 million treatments annually, even though our population is 230 million. This shows just how widely it is used.”

Addressing the persistent colonial mindset in Nigeria’s education and healthcare, Emeje candidly shared his personal experience. “I was trained as a pharmacist under a colonial curriculum. Most of us were. Countries that have advanced quickly realised that foreign education systems were not designed to develop them — they were for entertainment, not enlightenment.” He announced a groundbreaking initiative: “We’re now setting up a national school rooted in Nigerian culture.

Students will learn in local languages and be taught by experts in traditional medicine — bone setters, herbalists, birth attendants — because they hold invaluable indigenous knowledge.”

Highlighting a specific Nigerian strength, he added: “Nigeria’s traditional bone-setting techniques are among the best in the world. In the villages, injuries that would lead to amputations in hospitals are healed and rehabilitated. We’re integrating these methods into formal training, licensing practitioners, and digitising their records.”

On data and regulation, he noted, “We have started building the first national digital database for traditional medical practitioners. In one local government in Oyo State, you can now find a practitioner’s name, location, services, and products with just a click. This is how we intend to achieve universal health coverage — by knowing and regulating who is providing what care.”

Emeje stressed that NNMDA’s research is driven by development, not just academic pursuits. “Our research is not for academic promotion — it is for development. Every study starts with community engagement. We learn from the people, understand their health challenges, and scientifically refine their traditional solutions. This ensures safer, more effective, and stable treatments.”

While acknowledging imperfections in all medical systems, he asserted, “Every system has shortcomings, including natural medicine. But our job is to improve, not dismiss. We are not blaming colonialism anymore — it is over. The problem is those who still cling to colonial mindsets.”

Globally, NNMDA is gaining recognition. “For the first time in 30 years, we submitted proposals to seven competitive research grants — and won three. One of our staff now serves as an international supervisor at a South African university. This shows that our capacity is recognised globally,” Prof. Emeje proudly announced.

The event, was also graced by dignitaries including Chief Hassan Lawal, ACP Dr. Bose Salami, Col. Samson Idowu, and immigration official S.I. Bikini-Rossi, showcased significant achievements in malaria prevention and public health.

Emeje confirmed that the agency has not only met its promise of delivering 11 new products this year but has surpassed it with a total of 23, including treatments for peptic ulcers, diarrhea, and hepatitis B. Notably, a nanotech-based anti-diarrhea product won first prize at a national scientific competition and has secured funding in the 2025 national budget.

Emeje clarified that commercialization rests with pharmaceutical companies, urging industry stakeholders to engage with the agency.

He expressed confidence in bringing these innovations to market, drawing from past successes in commercialising government-developed health products.