The Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, has called on Nigerians to adopt locally-made herbal medicines and reduce their dependence on foreign products. This appeal was made during a two-day AB Pharmaceuticals Business Summit organised by ABUAD in collaboration with pharmaceutical marketers. The summit aimed to promote the university's pharmaceutical products and encourage Nigerians to rely on locally developed medicines.
According to Oluwatoyin Afolabi, Deputy Director of AB Pharmaceutical Services, Nigeria's continued reliance on foreign herbal products is a form of economic and medical dependence that needs to be addressed urgently. Afolabi stated that the country has the indigenous medicinal resources and growing research capacity to develop its own herbal medicines. She emphasized that it is time for a revolution, where Nigerians prioritize their own products over foreign alternatives.
During the summit, ABUAD presented three pharmaceutical products developed by the university: AB Mal, ABUAD Virucidine, and AB Health Animation 250mg. These products are part of the university's efforts to expand the reach of its locally developed medicines. Afolabi revealed that the ABUAD founder, Afe Babalola, developed these products based on his vision for Nigeria to treat its people with locally produced medicines.
Afolabi criticized the current trend of Nigerians promoting foreign medicines, particularly from China and India, while neglecting local products. She argued that the country should stop depending excessively on imported medicines when it has the capacity to develop and promote its own products. The Deputy Director noted that a significant amount of Nigeria's economic resources goes into purchasing foreign products, which must be reversed by investing in local production and marketing.
ABUAD Vice-Chancellor, Prof Smaranda Olarinde, stressed the need to reduce Nigeria's dependence on imported pharmaceutical products. Olarinde advised that the country should create an ecosystem where universities, industries, regulators, healthcare professionals, investors, and consumers work together to move promising innovations from the laboratory to the marketplace. This collaboration is crucial for promoting locally developed medicines.
The Chairman, Association of Pharmaceutical Products Marketers of Nigeria, Ekiti State, Peter Ajayi, praised Afe Babalola for his vision and pledged the association's support in making the products available to prospective individuals. The association aims to work with ABUAD to promote the university's pharmaceutical products and change the mindset of Nigerians towards locally made herbal medicines.
The summit initiative is driven by ABUAD founder's vision of ensuring that Nigerians can increasingly rely on medicines developed and produced within the country. By promoting locally made herbal medicines, Nigeria can reduce its reliance on foreign products, conserve its economic resources, and develop its indigenous medicinal resources. The university's efforts aim to revolutionize the country's approach to healthcare and medicine.
Key points
- ABUAD unveils three locally-made herbal medicines to promote self-reliance in healthcare.
- Nigeria's dependence on foreign herbal products is a form of economic and medical dependence.
- The university aims to change the mindset of Nigerians towards locally made herbal medicines.
