FG inaugurates committee to develop phytomedicine sector

By Kunle Sanni

The Federal Government has inaugurated a ministerial committee to develop Nigeria’s phytomedicine value chain, aiming to integrate traditional and modern medical practices to boost health outcomes and economic growth.

Launched by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the committee is expected to lay the foundation for a thriving phytomedicine industry that supports universal health coverage, improves rural livelihoods, and contributes to national GDP.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to harnessing Nigeria’s biodiversity and traditional medicinal knowledge for economic diversification and job creation.

“This is not just a health policy—it is a socio-economic policy,” Salako said. “Commercializing the phytomedicine value chain will generate employment across conservation, cultivation, harvesting, and industrial production of herbal medicines.”

He noted that tapping into the country’s natural resources would help Nigeria stake its claim in the global herbal product market while strengthening domestic healthcare delivery.

Committee chairman Dr. Obi Adigwe, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), assured stakeholders that the group would ensure the production of high-quality, safe, and affordable phytomedicines.

“We will oversee the full value chain—from discovery and formulation to clinical validation and global export,” Adigwe said. “This will create jobs, build capacity, and improve national health outcomes.”

The committee includes members from government agencies, the private sector, traditional medicine practitioners, and international partners like the World Health Organization. Its mandate includes policy reform, commercialization planning, product identification, and stakeholder engagement.