Over-reliance on imported drugs hindering Nigeria’s growth, Don warns
A Professor of Biochemistry and Food Biotechnology, Simiat Jimoh, has cautioned that Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported pharmaceuticals will continue to impede its development trajectory. She made this known while
A Professor of Biochemistry and Food Biotechnology, Simiat Jimoh, has cautioned that Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported pharmaceuticals will continue to impede its development trajectory.
She made this known while delivering the maiden inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, where she underscored the vast potential of locally sourced natural materials in advancing sustainable development through fermentation.
Speaking on the lecture titled “Fermenting the Future: Harnessing Microbial Metabolism for Sustainable Technological Innovations,” Jimoh called on stakeholders, particularly government, to adopt inward-looking strategies and strengthen local research capacity.
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She described laboratory investigations as a “gold mine” capable of driving sustainable development, stressing the need to bridge existing gaps in research and innovation.
According to her, laboratory-based discoveries have become strategic instruments for national growth, urging increased investment in the sector.
Jimoh further noted that microbiologists have a critical role to play in harnessing fermentation technologies to build a sustainable economy and reduce dependence on foreign pharmaceuticals.
Prof Jimoh asserted that Nigeria has experts who have the capacity to explore the great benefits inherent in microbes such as bacteria and fungi for sustainable economy.
The professor of industrial microbiology and Biotechnology noted that bacteria and fungi don't only generate high-value industrial bio products, they also offer solutions to mystical od health challenges facing Nigerians.
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"Microbial systems generate high-value molecular intermediates and industrial bioproducts while it also offer practical solutions to pressing challenges of health, agriculture, energy, and material science.
"When deliberately harnssed and guided by sound scientific design, these organisms enable chnological progress that is biologically grounded and environmentally sponsible, placing microbes at the centre of a sustainable future."
Warning against reliance on importation, Professor Jimoh decried that country's sustained reliance on importation of pharmaceutical products and similar items that can be produced locally.
"The persistent reliance on imported pharmaceuticals, lymers, and bio-based chemicals has hindered industrial independence d continually strained the country's foreign reserves.
"Yet embedded in our abundant agricultural residues and rich indigenous microbial diversity lies a transformative opportunity.
Speaking further, Prof Jimoh maintained that judicial exploration of microbes could help produce sweetness that can end diabetes and produce other useful items.
"Through strategic microbial processing, agro-wastes can be converted into bioethanol, diabetic-endly sweeteners, biosurfactants for detergents and environmental mediation, and biodegradable plastics.
