The Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) is gearing up to launch 17 new products, Director-General Professor Martins revealed in an exclusive interview with Voice of Nigeria.
The agency said it has already developed the products, which are currently undergoing regulatory assessments by the National Agency for Food, Drugs, Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Five certificates have been issued to confirm the products’ safety and efficacy, with a 75% pass rate.
“We have written to the minister to request the president’s presence at the launch, scheduled for May next year, marking our two-year anniversary,” Professor Martins said.
The Director General of the agency, Professor Martins said the agency has made significant strides in research and development, with a breakthrough patent achievement within its first year.
“This 27-year-old agency has never had anything patented until now,” Professor Martins noted.
Manage Sickle Cell
The NNMDA’s achievements gained momentum through the launch of four oral dosage formulations on March 8, 2024 as the agency now struggles to meet the overwhelming demand from Nigerians for the innovative products.
These formulations, designed to manage sickle cell, diabetes, upper-respiratory tract infections, and anti-aging, have marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s healthcare history.
According to the Minister of Federal Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, the launch is a historic first, not only for Nigeria but for the entire African continent. “This is the first time any minister, anywhere in Africa, would be launching four health products,” he emphasised, highlighting the agency’s remarkable achievement.
Voice of Nigeria reports that the Minister’s endorsement underscores the agency’s commitment to advancing healthcare through science and innovation.
The agency’s Director-General, Professor Martins, attributes the success to the minister’s unique blend of scientific expertise and business acumen. As a respected scientist with a private-sector background, Chief Uchennachi brings a deep understanding of the intersection of science and business.
He also said the synergy has propelled the agency’s research and development efforts, yielding impressive results and cementing its position as a leader in Nigeria’s healthcare response.
Emphasising the importance of understanding research beyond tangible products, Professor Martins explained, “Research is a process, not just buying and selling. It’s about investing in what you can’t see or touch.”
He urged the public to recognise the value of research in driving innovation and progress.
Additional Breakthrough
In another milestone, NNMDA has secured accreditation from the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education to offer a National Diploma Program in Natural Medicine.
“This innovative enterprise will provide a two-year program leading to a diploma in natural medicine,” Professor Martins announced.
Education and Decolonisation
Professor Martins stressed the importance of education, calling it “the best gift you can give to a child and a country.” He emphasised the need for “brain decolonisation” to overcome mental and brain laziness.
“Somebody who will raise his shoulders to tell you he went to the best schools like Harvard, Yale to get a degree- Master’s or PhD, participated in the United Nations forum or that he knows presidents of countries and they respect him or her who won’t still believe that he or she as a black man, cannot do something unless the white man validates it. It is called mental laziness. Not only mental laziness, but brain laziness.”
“The first thing we try to do when you come here is wash your brain, work on your mindset. Many people say Nigerians are resilient, Nigerians are doing this and that. The truth is many of us don’t believe in ourselves.
That is the reason why we seek validation from others on the things that we do,” he lamented.
Professor Martins said the school is involved in brain decolonisation, working on mindset, washing away the colonial mentality that hinders progress.
Lateefat Ibrahim
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