Health
PROF. Oluwafemi Oguntubeju on Friday urged the Federal Government to massively invest more funds in research to explore the natural plants medicine that abound in the country.
Oguntubeju, a Biomedical Scientist in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa, gave the advice at a public lecture in Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) Okitipupa.
He said that the natural plants were other ways that other countries like China, Japan, India and others tapped into, to generate income to boost their economies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture, organised by the Faculty of Sciences, OSUSTECH, was titled: “Medicinal Plants, The Good and the Bad”.
Oguntubeju said that the Federal Government had financial and the natural resources as well as the manpower to invest heavily in the research of medicinal plants.
He noted that research into medicinal plants had the potential of generating a lot of income for the country and boosting the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The don noted that the medicinal plants were very efficacious to solve some ailments and diseases but inability to know the exact composition and dosage was dangerous.
He expressed concern that the government abandoned the production of herbal medicines in the hands of quacks who were making huge money from it.
He, however, noted that the quacks were doing a lot of damage to the people because of their ignorance in composition and dosage of the herbal medicines.
“Government needs to rise up and invest more funds in research on medicinal plants, which can serve as substitutes in generating income that will boost the economy.
“Researchers also need to collaborate with the herbalists who know most of the roots and herbs, while the government needs to implement policies that will guide against unapproved herbal medicines.
“With all these in place, government will make more income by increasing the GDP that will boost the economy just like Japan, China, India that make a lot of money from medicinal plants,” Oguntubeju said.
Prof. Olujimi Folarin, Dean Faculty of Sciences, OSUSTECH, also advised the Federal Government to ensure more funds are injected into universities of science and technology for the institutions to be more relevant in their fields.
“The lecture is an eye opener and with the permission of the authority, this will also afford us the opportunity to collaborate with Cape Peninsula University for research,” Folarin said.
Earlier, Prof. Sunday Ogunduyile, the Vice-Chancellor, OSUSTECH, said the lecture was timely and an important one meant to discuss prospects of harvesting natural gifts of herbs as therapeutic approach.
Ogunduyile, who was represented by the Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Francis Igbasan, commended the organisers of the maiden lecture, saying that it would engender the institution to maximise its potential. (NAN)
– Sept. 6, 2019 @ 15:27 GMT |
Tags: Don urges FG to allocate funds for natural plants medicine
