Medicinal Plants: Alarm Raised Over The Extinction In Nigeria
On Wednesday, Professor Emmanuel Oladipo Ajani, a professor of Biochemistry from the Kwara State University, Malete, expressed his concern over the gradual extinction of important medicinal plants in Nigeria.
He cautioned that the industrial development across Nigeria was causing the quick extinction of plants with medicinal value and that unless urgent measures are being taken to conserve the little ones available, there is a chance that Nigeria might continue to experience a health crisis.
Professor Ajani who teaches in the university’s faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, mentioned this in the 9th inaugural lecture of the university which he delivered at the institution.
His lecture, which was titled “Man vs Diseases: The Green Remedy”, was the first to be delivered in the faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences.
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He also pointed out that the drug resistance for malaria was rising and said that for Nigeria to truly eliminate some diseases by 2030 and also achieve sustainable development goal SDG by 2030, proactive steps should be taken in the incorporation of traditional medicine in the Healthcare delivery system.
“Many plants that are of medicinal importance are already going into extinction as a result of industrial development. Strategies should to manage and conserve Nigerian indigenous plant. The development of a compendium of indigenous plants with potentials and clinical benefits is highly recommended.”
Professor Ajani who is also the dean of the faculty of pure and applied sciences, has appealed to the Kwara state government to assist the Kwara state university in the establishment of a well equipment “Bioinformatics and Computational Biology laboratories” to enable it carry research in natural products development .
