The Federal Government has inaugurated a ministerial committee to develop a comprehensive framework for the commercialisation of phytomedicine products in the country.

The committee will also develop the phytomedicine value chain, integrate traditional and modern medicine, engage in research, standardisation, quality control, intellectual property protection, and market entry, as well as identify phytomedicinal products with commercial potential and facilitate partnerships between traditional medicine practitioners, research institutions, and the private sector for product development.

Inaugurating the committee in Abuja, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako, said that Nigeria is blessed with vast biodiversity and the traditional use of medicinal plants and natural medicine to treat and manage various ailments, yet this enormous resource has remained largely underutilised, undervalued, and insufficiently integrated into the mainstream health and economic systems.

He expressed the current administration’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage, economic diversification, and job and wealth creation, adding that the ministry is advancing the Phytomedicine Value Chain Initiative not just as a health policy, but also as a socio-economic policy.

Salako said the inauguration of the committee is a defining moment in the collective effort to reposition Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system and diversify its economic base through the structured development and commercialisation of rich phytomedicinal resources.

According to him, it is envisaged that the commercialisation of the phytomedicine value chain will provide jobs in conservation, cultivation and harvesting of medicinal plants, and the production of herbal medicinal products locally at the industrial scale.

The minister stated that this will ensure Nigeria’s participation in the fast-growing global market for herbal medicinal products and its contribution to the national economy.

Among terms of reference for the committee is to propose policy reforms and regulatory mechanisms that will create an enabling business environment for phytomedicine commercialisation.

It will also ensure patient safety and efficacy standards, to create pathways for capacity building and knowledge exchange among stakeholders in the phytomedicine value chain including traditional healers, scientists, pharmacists, and entrepreneurs.

The committee is also expected to recommend sustainable financing and investment models, including opportunities for local and international collaboration, grants, and venture capital support for phytomedicine innovation.

It will also ensure alignment with national health strategies and global best practices, in line with WHO guidelines on traditional medicine and any other relevant task to ensure the realisation of the intended objectives.

Salako disclosed that the ministry will harness Nigeria’s vast biodiversity and traditional use of medicinal plants and natural medicine to treat and manage various ailments.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Committee and Director-General, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr Obi Adigwe, stated that the committee will work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that high quality, safe, efficacious and affordable phytomedicines are produced.

He said, “Over the years, NIPRD has not only conceptualised but also operationalised evidence-based approaches for harnessing these natural resources. One such example is the Contextual Processing Protocol (CPP) — a bottom-up framework that enables rural women and youth to ethically and scientifically process indigenous plants into medicinal products.

This model has been recognised internationally and forms the cornerstone of a strategy for integrated phytomedicine production and capacity building.
“We will lead every step of the value chain: from discovery and formulation to clinical validation, quality assurance, and global export. We will create high-value employment, build robust capacity, secure revenue streams, and improve health outcomes for our citizens,” he added.

Adigwe said the committee will collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure that high quality, safe, efficacious and affordable phytomedicines become both a pillar of Nigeria’s healthcare strategy and a driving force for economic transformation.

Membership of the committee comprises government officials, the private sector and international partners, including a World Health Organisation representative and traditional and natural medicine practitioners.