Health
Don urges investment as herbal medicine economy targets $250bn
Taiwo Bankole
A Professor of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology at the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Augustine Onyeaghala, has identified a lack of political will as the major obstacle to the development of Nigeria’s herbal medicine sector.
He said the industry has the potential to revolutionise healthcare delivery and expand access to quality medical care.
Onyeaghala said the effectiveness of herbal medicine in combating ailments such as hypertension and diabetes has been established over the years, stressing the need for Nigeria to strengthen its clinical pipeline for natural medicine and align with global best practices, particularly those of countries such as China.
He added that the global herbal medicine economy is projected to exceed `$250 billion by 2030, urging the country to increase investment in standardised laboratories and healthcare equipment to support the development of the sector.
The professor spoke on Thursday while delivering the fourth inaugural lecture of Chrisland University titled, “When Science Serves Society: Aligning Natural Products, Clinical Evidence and Quality Systems.”
He explained that the lecture highlighted the critical intersection of herbal products, clinical development, toxicological safety, quality assurance and health systems strengthening within a modern healthcare framework.
According to him, herbal medicines, which have long been embedded in cultural and traditional practices, possess significant therapeutic potential.
However, he noted that their transition from traditional use to evidence-based clinical application requires rigorous scientific validation through structured clinical trials, standardised methodologies and strict adherence to ethical and regulatory frameworks.
Speaking with journalists after the lecture, Onyeaghala said one of the major impediments to harnessing the enormous potential of herbal medicine and natural supplements in Nigeria is the lack of strong government commitment and investment.
“Lack of political will has been the major reason the country has not been able to maximise the huge potential of our herbs and roots to improve healthcare services.
“We have a lot of empirical data confirming that herbal medicine is effective and safe. Ginger, garlic and turmeric have been with us for many years. These are natural supplements that people have used successfully over time.
“Based on a series of clinical trials we conducted on bitter kola and bitter leaf, which have shown potential in the treatment of diabetes and even diabetic foot ulcers, we generated clinical evidence indicating that they can be integrated into clinical treatment protocols,” he said.
He said the government is aware of the available scientific data supporting the efficacy of local herbs but has failed to translate such evidence into policies that would benefit Nigerians.
“Government knows there is substantial evidence supporting the effectiveness of our local herbs, but the political will to translate this evidence into actionable policies is lacking.
“Policies must be initiated because people can no longer be restricted to one source of medical treatment. They should be allowed to have options,” he continued.
The scholar also advocated greater integration between traditional and orthodox medicine to improve healthcare access and outcomes.
“The issue of fragmentation must be addressed. We must integrate natural and orthodox medicine to expand access to healthcare services.
“There is a lot of money circulating within the natural supplements industry that Nigeria has failed to tap into,” he added.
Onyeaghala warned that Nigeria risks missing out on the rapidly growing herbal medicine market if it fails to establish the necessary systems and infrastructure.
“The global herbal medicine economy is projected to exceed $250 billion by 2030. Nigeria will continue to lose out if we fail to put in place functional systems and align with best practices from countries such as China in the development of herbal medicine.
“People must stop working in silos. If we can come together as a country to establish a robust natural products manufacturing industry, Nigeria can become a major player in this huge economy, and the benefits will be shared by all,” he concluded.
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