The Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) has taken a significant step towards promoting self-reliance in the pharmaceutical sector by unveiling three locally developed herbal medicines. The university's effort aims to encourage Nigerians to rely more on indigenous medicinal resources and reduce their dependence on imported traditional medicines from countries such as China and India. This move was made at the AB Pharmaceuticals Business Summit organised by ABUAD in collaboration with pharmaceutical marketers.
The three unveiled pharmaceutical products include AB Mal, ABUAD Virucidine, and AB Health Animation 250mg. These products are part of the university's efforts to expand the reach of its developed products. According to ABUAD, Nigeria's continued reliance on foreign herbal products despite its indigenous medicinal resources and growing research capacity amounts to a form of economic and medical dependence that must be urgently addressed. The university emphasized the need for Nigerians to develop confidence in locally produced medicines.
The Deputy Director of AB Pharmaceutical Services, Afolabi Oluwatoyin, stated that the initiative was driven by the university founder's vision of ensuring that Nigerians could increasingly rely on medicines developed and produced within the country. Oluwatoyin emphasized that the ultimate objective was not merely commercial profit but a broader commitment to local pharmaceutical development, research, and national self-reliance. She argued that Nigeria needed a deliberate shift in attitude towards locally developed medicines.
Oluwatoyin further noted that effective marketing partnerships would be essential to achieving the objective of promoting locally developed medicines. She called for a revolution in the way Nigerians perceive and patronize local medicines, stating that it was time for the country to stop depending excessively on Chinese and Indian medicines when it has the capacity to develop and promote its own products. The Deputy Director also highlighted the significant amount of economic resources that go into purchasing foreign products.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, also emphasized the need to reduce Nigeria's dependence on imported pharmaceutical products. She noted that it's high time the country created an ecosystem in which the University, industry, regulators, healthcare professionals, investors, and consumers work together to move promising innovations from the laboratory to the marketplace. This collaboration is expected to promote the development and marketing of locally produced medicines.
The Chairman of Association of Pharmaceutical Products Marketers of Nigeria (APPMAN), Ekiti State, Peter Ajayi, hailed Afe Babalola for his exemplary vision in all fields. He stated that the association will do everything possible within its reach to make the products reach prospective individuals. The unveiling of the three locally made herbal medicines marks a significant milestone in ABUAD's efforts to promote self-reliance in the pharmaceutical sector.
The development and unveiling of these herbal medicines demonstrate ABUAD's commitment to promoting local pharmaceutical development and reducing Nigeria's dependence on imported medicines. The university's effort seeks to change the mindset of Nigerians and encourage them to patronize locally produced medicines. By doing so, the country can conserve its foreign exchange and promote economic growth.
Key points
- - ABUAD unveils three locally made herbal medicines to promote self-reliance in the pharmaceutical sector. - The university seeks to reduce Nigeria's dependence on imported traditional medicines from countries such as China and India. - The development of local medicines is expected to promote economic growth and conserve foreign exchange.
