Professor Raphael Mordi, an Organic Chemistry professor at Chrisland University in Abeokuta, said he is unhappy with how poorly waste is managed in Nigeria.
He explained that because waste is not managed properly, the country is missing out on many health and economic benefits that can come from what he called “fruitful waste management.”
He said the government should invest more in waste management to reduce environmental damage and help people live healthier lives.
Professor Mordi also mentioned that some fruits and vegetables eaten in Nigeria, like the bush mango (whose seeds are used to make ogbono soup) and the African star apple (called Agbalumo), have medicinal properties. These can act like natural antibiotics and help the body fight off bacteria that resist drugs.
He shared this during the third inaugural lecture at Chrisland University, which was titled “A Journey into the Chemistry of Waste, Wealth, and Health.”
He said, “Waste management in Nigeria is not effective. For example, some of my students did internships in parts of Ogun State and saw that waste is not being separated properly or managed well.”
He continued, saying that proper waste management can bring both health and wealth benefits. If done well, it can reduce pollution. He urged the government to do more and invest better in managing waste.
Mordi also said that research has shown many fruits and vegetables like bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis), used in ogbono soup, contain natural chemicals that can fight bacteria, including the ones that cause tuberculosis and resist common drugs.
He explained that bacterial and fungal infections are a global problem because many germs have become resistant to antibiotics. These new types of germs, called Multidrug Resistant (MDR), make most common medicines less effective.
Different parts of the bush mango plant have been found helpful in treating illnesses like diarrhea, liver problems, yellow fever, body pain, infertility, hernia, and infections.
Because many disease-causing germs are becoming drug-resistant, there is now a strong need to look for new medicines from natural sources like plants.
He said that plant extracts from bush mango have shown they can fight certain bacteria, including the one that causes tuberculosis. This supports the traditional use of the plant in treating diseases.
This is the first time it has been officially reported that bush mango extract can fight bacteria that cause tuberculosis. It is also used to treat yellow fever, diarrhea, diabetes, and to heal wounds, which supports its traditional use for treating infections.
Professor Mordi concluded that it is important to identify the active ingredients in these plant extracts and study their safety and medical benefits carefully.
