By Samuel Sunday
A Professor of Food and Nutrition Biochemistry at Ekiti State University, Professor Folake Lucy Oyetayo, has said Nigerians can significantly reduce their dependence on conventional drugs by embracing balanced diets enriched with indigenous medicinal plants.
Professor Oyetayo stated this while delivering the university’s 108th inaugural lecture titled, “In Search of the Beautiful Ones: Unravelling Phytoceuticals and Phytonutrients in Sleeping Pharmaceutical Giants.” She explained that many locally available edible plants contain bioactive compounds capable of preventing and managing chronic diseases naturally.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the lecture, the professor said years of research had shown that several indigenous plants possess phytochemicals with remarkable health-promoting properties. She cited agbalumo as one of the plants studied, revealing that its pulp powder significantly lowered blood glucose levels during experimental research.
According to her, these naturally occurring plants can help manage diseases associated with ageing and poor nutrition while producing fewer side effects than many synthetic medicines. She urged Nigerians to incorporate more local plant-based foods into their daily meals to improve overall health and wellbeing.
Professor Oyetayo stressed that government should shift greater attention to research on indigenous medicinal plants rather than relying heavily on imported pharmaceuticals. She noted that with adequate funding and modern research facilities, Nigerian scientists could develop safe and effective plant-based therapies capable of addressing many health challenges.
She also recommended stronger collaboration among universities, research institutes, healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical industries to transform scientific discoveries into affordable healthcare products. In addition, she advocated the establishment of botanical gardens and herbarium centres to preserve valuable medicinal plants from extinction.
Speaking after the lecture, the Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele, described the inaugural lecture as timely and impactful. He said the presentation highlighted the need to maximise Nigeria’s abundant natural resources for improved nutrition and healthier living.
The lecture attracted academics, researchers, students, principal officers of the university, deans, heads of departments, government officials and other dignitaries, who commended Professor Oyetayo’s contributions to advancing research on food, nutrition and the medicinal value of indigenous plants.
