A professor of parasitology, Mathew Adamu, has called for more scientific research into indigenous medicinal resources to assess their potential to address animal health challenges.
Adamu said their effectiveness must be established through credible research rather than traditional claims.
He made the call in an interview with reporters on Thursday in Makurdi, highlighting the need for research-driven veterinary and biomedical innovation.
He said indigenous medicinal resources could help researchers discover useful compounds and develop solutions to unmet animal health needs. Their value, he added, should be assessed through reliable scientific evidence, responsible innovation and measurable social benefits.
Adamu said veterinary and biomedical research should promote scientific excellence, ethical responsibility, environmental sustainability and social relevance.
He also called for stronger veterinary extension services to ensure validated research findings reach livestock farmers and other relevant stakeholders. He recommended workshops, community outreach, demonstrations and accessible educational materials to inform farmers.
Such programmes, he said, should cover parasite prevention, the responsible use of veterinary medicines, early recognition of symptoms and appropriate diagnostic testing.
Adamu urged livestock farmers to seek professional veterinary advice rather than rely on unverified treatments. He also called on government authorities to base decisions on livestock health, zoonotic disease control, medicinal plant research and indigenous innovation on credible scientific evidence.
He advocated stronger partnerships among government, universities, pharmaceutical companies and private investors to support the development and standardisation of indigenous veterinary medicines, as well as the commercialisation of scientifically validated products.
Adamu called for sustained funding from government agencies, universities, research councils and development partners for interdisciplinary research. He identified veterinary parasitology, medicinal plant science, zoonotic disease surveillance and indigenous pharmaceutical development as key areas requiring greater investment.
He said improved diagnostic capacity was essential to effective animal health management and urged greater support for veterinary teaching hospitals, research institutions and diagnostic laboratories.
He said these facilities needed adequate laboratory infrastructure, trained personnel, quality assurance systems and stronger institutional collaboration to provide reliable parasitological, haematological, biochemical and molecular diagnostic services.
Improved diagnostics, he added, would strengthen disease surveillance, enable timely interventions and support evidence-based decisions in animal healthcare.
Adamu also urged universities and research institutions to establish or strengthen technology transfer and intellectual property support units. These units, he said, could help researchers identify patentable discoveries, protect eligible innovations and develop pathways to turn research findings into commercially viable products.
