The federal government has directed key health research institutions in the country to provide full support, including financial backing, for ongoing studies into a potential treatment for brain cancer.
Institutions mandated to participate include the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), and the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT).
The directive follows encouraging reports about a promising compound believed to be effective against several cancer types, particularly glioblastoma multiforme – one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, issued the instruction during a virtual meeting with the leadership of the institutes and the Centre for Advanced Medical Research and Training (CAMRET), a research unit of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
Dr. Salako described the discovery as a potential game-changer for Nigeria’s healthcare system and a significant stride toward achieving President Bola Tinubu’s health sector transformation agenda.
He emphasised that the development underscores the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s phytomedicine industry as part of broader efforts to unlock the nation’s healthcare value chain.
The Minister further revealed that a ministerial committee has already been established to coordinate collaboration among researchers, investors, and industry partners to fast-track pharmaceutical innovation and ensure that Nigeria plays a leading role in global medical breakthroughs.
‘The phytomedicine sector must be prioritized in unlocking Nigeria’s healthcare value chain. A committee has already been established to bring together investors, research institutions, and stakeholders to accelerate development in the pharmaceutical sector,’ he said.
Dr. Salako urged the CAMRET team to present a detailed proposal to the Ministry outlining its requirements and pledged the federal government’s support for further research and development.
He commended the scientists for their dedication and encouraged them to sustain momentum until the discovery yields a product that benefits Nigerians.
Presenting the research outcome, CAMRET team lead, Dr. Amina Jega, said the active compound was derived from a plant native to northwestern Nigeria.
Laboratory tests, she explained, showed that the extract destroyed brain cancer cell lines within 48 hours at a specific dosage, while noting that the substance is also being tested against other cancers, such as breast, liver, colon, cervical, leukemia, and lung, and early results have been encouraging.
Dr. Jega also noted that glioblastoma remains one of the most fatal brain cancers, with patients surviving an average of only 15 months due to poor drug response, underscoring the urgency of continued research.
In response, the Director General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Aliyu, while welcoming the Minister’s swift intervention and affirming the institute’s readiness to collaborate fully, disclosed that NICRAT had already reached out to the researchers and would provide necessary institutional support.
‘As soon as the Minister received word of the discovery, he asked us to make contact with the researchers. NICRAT is committed to supporting this initiative in every possible way’, Prof. Malami said.
NIPRD’s Director General, Dr. Obi Adigwe, also confirmed that the Minister approved the inclusion of a CAMRET representative in a federal delegation scheduled to attend specialized biomedical training in China in early 2026.
He added that Stanford University will host a boot camp on translational research in Nigeria in February 2026, where a member of the research team will also participate.
‘The Minister has approved these engagements as part of national priority projects,’ Dr. Adigwe said.
Similarly, NIMR’s Director General, Prof. John Obafunwa, expressed interest in partnering with CAMRET on clinical studies and further analysis of the extract’s efficacy in human trials.
Stressing why NIMR’s full cooperation is assured, Prof. Obafunwa said, ‘If this research can extend brain cancer survival rates beyond the current 12 to 15 months, it will mark a major advancement.’