Nigeria-Brazil Bilateral Meeting Agrees on Traditional Medicine, Medicinal Plant Research and Healthcare Innovation-Says Otunba Ajiboye

The just-concluded Nigeria-Brazil Bilateral Meeting to forge strategic alliance for the transformation of traditional medicine into Global Health Solutions hosted by Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Brazil’s foremost public health research institution has recorded significant breakthroughs, reinforcing the commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation in areas capable of delivering social, economic, and public health benefits.Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Otunba Biodun Ajiboye says the meeting, which brought together government officials, researchers, academics, healthcare experts, and cultural leaders from both nations, reaffirmed a shared resolve to scientifically validate traditional medicine practices and integrate proven indigenous remedies into formal healthcare systems.According to him, one of the major highlights of the discussions was the ongoing Harvard–Brazil–Nigeria metabolomics study involving 68 medicinal plants traditionally used in the treatment of diabetes. Participants noted that the research could pave the way for the development of new therapeutic products, while opening opportunities for broader collaboration on other medicinal plants with proven health benefits.He disclosed that the meeting also reviewed an existing database of approximately 500 medicinal plants that have already undergone varying levels of scientific validation. Stakeholders agreed that the collection provides a strong foundation for future joint research initiatives and pharmaceutical development between Nigeria and Brazil.In furtherance of efforts to transform indigenous knowledge into economic and healthcare value, participants also explored strategies for developing a medicinal plant-to-pharmaceutical value chain. Discussions drew lessons from successful Brazilian phytotherapeutic products that have evolved from traditional remedies into commercially viable healthcare products, creating employment opportunities and contributing to national economic growth.Another key outcome of the meeting was the expressed interest in establishing a Human Milk Bank in Nigeria. The initiative is expected to benefit from the technical expertise of the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), leveraging Brazil’s globally acclaimed experience in human milk banking to improve maternal and child healthcare outcomes in Nigeria.The bilateral engagement also focused on the recognition and promotion of traditional health practices, collaboration on climate and health initiatives linked to COP31 and the International Savanna Forum, and the strengthening of South-South cooperation in research, innovation, and social technologies.Participants acknowledged that despite growing global interest in traditional medicine, structural barriers and historical prejudices continue to limit its broader institutional acceptance in some parts of the world. They emphasized the need for evidence-based research, policy support, and international collaboration to ensure that indigenous medical knowledge receives the recognition it deserves within modern healthcare systems.Observers at the meeting described the Nigeria–Brazil partnership as a significant milestone in cultural diplomacy and scientific cooperation, noting that it has the potential to unlock the immense economic opportunities embedded in Africa’s indigenous knowledge systems while contributing to global healthcare innovation.As discussions continue, stakeholders expressed optimism that the outcomes of the meeting would translate into concrete programmes, research partnerships, technology transfer initiatives, and investment opportunities capable of positioning both countries as leaders in the growing global traditional medicine sector.Signed:Caleb NorMedia Assistant to the Executive Secretary/CEO, NICO.