A professor of Pharmacological Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Niger State, Prof. Dickson Achimugu Musa, has charged African researchers to collaborate and share expertise and skills to accelerate drug discovery efforts to ensure link between traditional medicine and modern pharmacology.
He said at the university’s 21st inaugural lecture that Nigeria ranked 11th in terms biodiversity in Africa with 900 species of plants, 940 species of birds, 303 mammals and 417 species of reptiles that position the country to lead research in pharmacology.
In the lecture with the theme; Exploring Nigeria’s Natural Treasure Trove: A Pharmacological Biochemistry Journey From Plant to Pill held at the institution’s auditorium, Lapai, Prof Achimugu Musa stressed that Nigeria has the potential to lead in the research into medical plants to the development of new drugs and therapies.
He, however, said researchers in Africa must collaborate and share expertise and skills.
Achimugu also called on governments to provide support and funding, create policies to ensure safe and ethical exploration and use of natural resources for medical purpose and Pharmacological Biochemistry research in Nigeria and Africa.
He challenged researchers and universities to partner and invest in drug discovery research and infrastructure to promote biodiversity conversation and provide opportunity for the commercialization of successful research results.
In his remarks, the university’s vice chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu, applauded the lecturer for suggestions on how plants turn to pills for health purposes and urged emulation of the scholar in the area of specialisation to bring economic, social and political gains to the country.
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