The Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA) has said that research on the production of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical-grade starch is 85 per cent complete.
The Director-General of NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with reporters in Abuja while providing an update on some of the agency’s ongoing projects.
Emeje recalled that in 2024, the agency held a consultative stakeholders’ engagement to promote indigenous production of pharmaceutical-grade starch.
The meeting focused on the theme: “Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: Natural Medicine, Cassava Cultivation and Pharmaceutical-Grade Starch Production for Health, Wealth Creation, Student, Youth and Women Empowerment — The NNMDA Approach.”
He said Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava, with Brazil as its closest competitor, yet the country continues to import cassava-based materials used in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
According to him, the agency has made significant progress in developing pharmaceutical-grade starch, a critical raw material in drug production.
Emeje explained that upon assuming office as director-general, he engaged the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, to seek support for local production of pharmaceutical-grade starch.
“I submitted a proposal, explaining that producing pharmaceutical-grade starch is achievable and that we needed legislative support.
“Today, we have achieved remarkable results. We have successfully produced pharmaceutical-grade starch, conducted quality evaluations, and we are about 85 per cent towards completion,” he said.
Emeje said the agency plans to establish Nigeria’s first publicly owned pharmaceutical-grade starch production facility.
“We received funding from the Senate, conducted field studies, sourced cassava, generated data, and we are now at the pilot scale-up stage to establish our own facility.
“In the next one to two years, we will not only present pharmaceutical-grade starch to the country but also unveil the facility where it will be produced,” he said.
On the progress of the agency’s College of Traditional Medicine, Emeje said its establishment marked a major milestone in the formalization of traditional medicine education in Nigeria.
He said about 35 students were currently enrolled at the college and were expected to graduate this year.
“We have about 35 students, and the college has strong prospects for expansion, particularly as science and technology continue to advance.
“We will graduate our first set of students in 2026, and the institution has been upgraded to a National Diploma-awarding institution. Previously, it operated as a National Innovative Enterprise Institution,” he said.
Emeje explained that the upgrade would attract more students and strengthen the agency’s training mandate.
“By the Act that established us, we have the mandate to train anyone interested in traditional medicine.
“We have the skills, the knowledge, the capacity and now global recognition by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Africa,” he added.
Emeje also said the 10th National Assembly had continued to support the agency’s initiatives, noting that several proposals submitted to the legislature had received positive responses despite limited funding.
According to him, engagement with the National Assembly contributed to a resolution urging Nigerians to prioritize the use of natural medicines.
He said the growing legislative backing reflects increased national recognition of the importance of natural medicines in healthcare delivery and national development.
