FG, pharma firms unite to unlock billions from natural medicines

– As NNMDA unveils seven indigenous products

The Federal Government has disclosed its readiness to boost the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) through the production and export of natural medicines, with the potential to generate billions of dollars in revenue while ensuring the availability of essential medicines to the populace at affordable rates.

The government is pursuing the initiative in collaboration with leading pharmaceutical companies that have expressed interest in the commercialisation of locally developed medicines by government agencies.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, made this disclosure during a special interview session with journalists at the official unveiling of seven indigenous healthcare products developed by the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA).

He said the products had undergone the necessary scrutiny by NAFDAC and had been approved for human safety and efficacy.

Udeh acknowledged Nigeria’s abundance of natural resources, including medicinal plants that have been used for centuries to promote the health and wellbeing of indigenous communities, stressing the importance of developing natural medicines from these resources.

He described NNMDA’s efforts to develop local medicines as significant contributions to achieving health equality and equity in the country. He also commended its research and development work on natural medicines targeting tropical diseases such as malaria and sickle cell disease, as well as other health conditions including cancer, hepatitis B and erectile dysfunction.

The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that these innovations are not limited to improving healthcare access but are also deliberately harnessed for the economic development of the nation through large-scale production and exportation.

“That’s why I visited this agency and have met with industry players, captains of industry in the pharmaceutical industry of Nigeria. And the resolution from the assessment is that we have, as a country, the potential to produce and export natural medicine to the tune of billions of US dollars.

“In fact, the Nigerian market can actually, from what we are producing, earn for this agency and for the pharmaceutical big players billions in revenue just from attending to the health needs of Nigeria.

“So, not only do I believe in its export potential and meeting the needs within the local market, we’re actually taking steps to ensure that this happens, and that’s why I held this meeting with industry players and the management of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency,” Udeh stated.

The minister further disclosed that his discussions with industry leaders involved five local manufacturers, one multinational company and NAFDAC. He said it was agreed that the industry players would partner with the ministry to take the agency’s products through large-scale production and marketing.

He underscored their experience in the pharmaceutical market and marketing capacity, describing them as well positioned to drive the commercialisation of the products.

“They are the ones that have the capacity to commercialise, capacity to market, capacity to ensure that this reaches Nigeria to solve our medical needs,” he said.

Udeh stressed the importance of ensuring that the resolutions reached at the meeting translated into concrete commitments rather than remaining mere discussions. He said the agreements would be documented, archived and preserved to ensure continuity beyond the tenure of the current officials.

“Part of the resolution we also undertook is that the deliberations wouldn’t just stop by making commitments and doing all the talk. We’ll also reduce this resolution and commitment in writing, so that once it takes that formal process, even if I’m no longer the minister, even if the DG is no longer in office, there will be a complete commitment to the partnership.

“Of course, our industry partners will know that the agreement is institutionalised and it will be respected as such.”

The minister also stressed the need for proper management of research outcomes, stating that research should not end with scientific discoveries but should progress to commercialisation.

He therefore appreciated the readiness of industry players to support the marketing and large-scale production of the agency’s products, recognising that private companies possess the expertise and capacity required to manufacture, distribute and commercialise innovations.

“This collaboration is expected to improve healthcare access, create jobs, increase company revenues, and generate income for both the agency and the nation,” he said.

NNMDA unveils seven products

Unveiling the products, the Director-General of NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, listed the products and their indications as Namdacid for ulcers; Namdarol for high cholesterol; Namdavir for hepatitis B; Namdagor for erectile dysfunction; Turmejol for cancers; Zae Granules for hypertension; and Zae Herbal Tea, also for hypertension.

He emphasised that the efficacy of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine should not be judged solely by standards applied to conventional medicine, arguing that many medicinal plants have been used successfully for thousands of years through observation and practical experience.

Emeje, who is also co-chair of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM) of the World Health Organisation (WHO), disclosed that the WHO is developing innovative approaches, including reverse pharmacology, to document and validate the effectiveness of traditional medicine.

He maintained that while scientific validation is necessary for lesser-known medicinal plants, commonly consumed medicinal plants with long histories of safe use already have established evidence supporting their benefits.

Speaking on cancer research, the NNMDA DG identified Turmejol as one of the products being developed for colorectal, ovarian and prostate cancers.

He stated that scientific data had been presented privately to industry stakeholders demonstrating its effects on cancer cells but declined to disclose detailed findings publicly ahead of commercialisation.

He also distinguished between products intended to prevent diseases and those designed to treat them, stressing that dosage and professional application determine their appropriate use.

The DG further stated that the cultivation of medicinal plants in Nigeria forms the foundation for producing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which are essential components of drug manufacturing.

He explained that standardisation begins at the farm level through Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP), including the proper cultivation, harvesting and processing of medicinal plants.

According to him, the minister’s visit demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to developing Nigeria’s pharmaceutical value chain.

He stressed that Nigeria currently depends heavily on imported medicines and argued that the country’s long-term goal should be to produce and eventually export pharmaceutical products derived from indigenous medicinal plants.

He described the launch of the seven herbal products as the beginning of a transformation that could reduce import dependence, strengthen local manufacturing and create significant employment opportunities.

The indigenous medicines expert highlighted the economic potential of medicinal plant development, asserting that a fully developed value chain for a single medicinal plant could generate approximately 3.8 million jobs.

He said the commercialisation of the seven newly launched products could therefore have a significant impact on employment, industrial growth and Nigeria’s economy.

He explained that the products would reach the market through partnerships with private-sector manufacturers rather than through the research agency itself.

According to him, the meeting convened by the minister with industry leaders was intended to accelerate commercialisation by connecting scientific researchers with companies that have the capacity to manufacture, market and distribute the products nationwide.