The Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, has launched a campaign to encourage Nigerians to adopt locally made herbal medicines, reducing the country's reliance on foreign products. Deputy Director of AB Pharmaceutical Services, Oluwatoyin Afolabi, emphasized the need for Nigeria to utilize its indigenous medicinal resources and growing research capacity. This initiative was presented during a two-day AB Pharmaceuticals Business Summit in Ado Ekiti.
Afolabi stated that Nigeria's continued dependence on foreign herbal products is a form of economic and medical dependence that needs to be addressed urgently. The summit featured the presentation of three pharmaceutical products developed by the university: AB Mal, ABUAD Virucidine, and AB Health Animation 250mg. These products aim to expand the reach of locally developed medicines.
The ABUAD founder, Aare Afe Babalola, developed these pharmaceutical products based on his vision for Nigeria to treat its people with locally produced medicines. Afolabi noted that before the advent of orthodox doctors, Nigerians relied on traditional medicines derived from local resources, which served them well. However, the country has yet to embrace its own products with the same enthusiasm as foreign alternatives.
Afolabi emphasized that the summit aimed to establish a marketing plan to make these products accessible to the Nigerian people. She stressed that it is time for a revolution, where Nigerians prioritize their own products over foreign ones. The deputy director cited the significant amount of economic resources spent on purchasing foreign products and advocated for investment in local production and marketing.
ABUAD Vice-Chancellor, Prof Smaranda Olarinde, highlighted the need to reduce Nigeria's dependence on imported pharmaceutical products. Olarinde advised creating an ecosystem where universities, industries, regulators, healthcare professionals, investors, and consumers collaborate to bring promising innovations from the laboratory to the marketplace.
The Chairman of the Association of Pharmaceutical Products Marketers of Nigeria, Ekiti State, Peter Ajayi, praised Aare Afe Babalola for his vision and pledged the association's support in making the products available to prospective customers. The association aims to work with ABUAD to promote locally developed medicines.
The campaign to promote Nigerian-made herbal drugs is part of ABUAD's efforts to reduce the country's reliance on foreign products and promote local economic growth. By investing in local production and marketing, Nigeria can reverse the trend of excessive dependence on imported medicines and develop a more sustainable healthcare system.
Key points
- Afe Babalola University promotes locally made herbal medicines to reduce Nigeria's dependence on foreign products.
- Deputy Director Oluwatoyin Afolabi emphasizes the need for Nigeria to utilize its indigenous medicinal resources.
- ABUAD presents three pharmaceutical products developed by the university to expand the reach of locally developed medicines.
