The Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) has developed 27 natural medicines and health supplements over the past two years, in a major stride towards promoting indigenous healthcare solutions.
The agency’s Director-General, Professor Martins Emeje, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja during a review of NNMDA’s achievements under the Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA) of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to Emeje, the feat is the result of focused local research and development efforts aimed at reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported drugs while addressing pressing health challenges using local resources.
“We have successfully developed 27 products. Five already have NAFDAC registration numbers, while 18 are undergoing regulatory assessment,” he said. “Most of them have NAFDAC application numbers and are at the final stages of evaluation.”
He described the development as historic, noting that all the medicines and supplements were made from 100 per cent indigenous materials — including plants, soil, water, and animals — and backed by scientific research to tackle local diseases.
Among the newly developed products are remedies for sickle cell disease, diabetes, ulcers, diarrhea, immune support, anti-aging, and malaria prevention.
Emeje praised the current administration for providing the enabling environment and policy support to drive innovation in traditional medicine. He highlighted the importance of the 2022 National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), which he said aligns with the goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He explained that the STI policy serves as a blueprint for innovation and has helped fast-track natural medicine research in the country. “This policy has created a framework that allows agencies like ours to operate more effectively,” he added.
The Director-General also stressed the importance of homegrown solutions in addressing Africa’s health challenges. “Every problem is local, and so must every solution be,” he said. “Africa’s health challenges can only be solved through its natural resources, which we must explore and develop using modern scientific tools.”
Emeje reaffirmed the agency’s long-term vision to make Nigeria a leader in traditional medicine and natural product development across the African continent. He said NNMDA will continue to pursue innovation in natural medicine while working closely with regulatory agencies like NAFDAC to ensure safety and effectiveness of all products.
The NNMDA, a government agency under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, is charged with the promotion, development, and integration of traditional medicine into Nigeria’s healthcare system. Its recent work marks one of the most significant efforts in advancing alternative medicine research in the country.
