The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has called for increased financial support to advance clinical trials for herbal medicines in Nigeria. She emphasized the need to establish scientific evidence on the safety and efficacy of locally produced herbal remedies through rigorous clinical testing. According to her, the agency is committed to supporting traditional medicine practitioners, but financial constraints pose a significant challenge in conducting necessary clinical trials.
Speaking at a recent stakeholders’ meeting, Prof. Adeyeye noted that many herbal products currently available in the Nigerian market lack proper clinical validation. She stressed that without clinical trials, these products cannot be approved for widespread use or recognized as safe treatments by health authorities. She urged the government and private sector to collaborate and invest in research that will bridge the gap between traditional medicine and modern healthcare.
Prof. Adeyeye highlighted that herbal medicines hold great potential in addressing public health challenges, especially in rural communities with limited access to conventional healthcare. However, she stated that the absence of clinical trial data has hindered the full integration of these remedies into the healthcare system. To address this, she proposed the establishment of a dedicated fund for financing clinical trials on herbal products, which would ensure that traditional medicines meet global safety standards.
In addition to financial support, the NAFDAC Director-General called for more research partnerships between universities, research institutes, and the private sector. She noted that collaboration with academic institutions would help to fast-track the development of evidence-based herbal medicines. Prof. Adeyeye also emphasized the importance of training traditional medicine practitioners on best practices in product development and quality assurance.
The call for financial support comes amid growing global interest in herbal medicines, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the potential of alternative treatments. Prof. Adeyeye expressed optimism that with the right funding and research, Nigeria’s rich biodiversity could be harnessed to develop herbal medicines that meet international standards, improving both public health and the country’s pharmaceutical industry.
