A professor of Pharmacological Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Professor Dickson Achimugu Musa has said that Nigeria ranked eleventh in terms biodiversity in Africa with nine hundred species of plants, nine hundred and forty species of birds, three hundred and three mammals and four hundred and seventeen species of reptiles.

Professor Achimugu Musa made this known as the University’s Twenty First Inaugural Lecturer with title, “Exploring Nigeria’s Natural Treasure Trove: A Pharmacological Biochemistry Journey From Plant to Pill”, held at the institution’s auditorium, Lapai.

He stressed that Nigeria has the potential to lead in the research into medical plants to the development of new drugs and therapies, urging African researchers to collaborate and share expertise as well as skills in order to accelerate drug discovery efforts to ensure traditional medicine and modern pharmacology.

Professor Achimugu called on governments to provide support and funding, create policies to ensure safe and ethical exploration and use of natural resources for medical purpose for Pharmacological Biochemistry research in Nigeria and Africa.

The Inaugural Lecturer also urged researchers and universities to partner and invest in drug discovery research and infrastructure to promote biodiversity conversation and provide opportunity for the commercialization of successful research results.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu, affirmed that plants turn to pills is very beneficial to major stakeholders in the sector, especially pharmaceutical companies.

The Vice Chancellor commended the twenty firsts inaugural lecturer for suggestions and coming up with ways on how plants turn to pills for health purposes, calling on other researchers to emulate the scholar in the area of specialization to bring economic, social and political benefits to the country.

Professor Abu Kasim also disclosed that fourteen Associates Professors have been promoted to professorial cadre, congratulating them for their doggedness and resilient at all time.

Earlier, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Conferences and Seminars, Professor Victor Are Kolawole explained that the lecture is in the area of herbal medicine, noting that products made from botanical or plants that are used to treat diseases or to maintain health take the day.

Professor Kolawole noted that this will be of strategic importance for the Research and Development Unit of the University as well as the center for Research Commercialisation for potency, adding that this could pave way for the establishment of Department of Pharmacology, a take off for the University’s drug manufacturing company.

In a vote of thanks, the Registrar, Alhaji Idris Saleh Kusherki appreciated the Governor of Niger State, Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Council, Management of the University and all other people present at the event.