14th June, 2013
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has said that the institution will soon start a postgraduate course in herbal medicine.
He made this disclosure recently during a briefing on the mid-term stewardship of the VC held at the Trenchard Hall of the institution, while also stating that the decision was taken considering the important role that herbs play in drug discovery.
In his words: “One cannot rule out the potency of herbal medicine, but there is need for an institution to help in developing the practice. Our plan is to have herbal medicine as part of the courses to be offered by UI.”
He added that the move would be the institution’s contribution to the development of herbal medicine in the country.
Prof. Adewole explained further that the aim was not to encourage fetish activities, but to contribute to herbal medicine development.
The Principal Investigator/Programme Director, Centre for Drug Discovery, Development and Production, Prof. Chinedum Babalola, who spoke in the same vein, said: “Faculty of Pharmacy has just established a new programme called postgraduate diploma in Herbal Medicine.”
“We are still developing a proposal on it but we have a farm there. The services there will include herbal drug processing. Prior to this, the Faculty won a grant to set up a farm for drug discovery, development and production,” he added.
He also pointed out that, “one of our point of reference is to have herbal farm, herbal processing and registration of drugs. The centre will turn our research in herbal medicine into products.”
The Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, UI, Segun Ajiboye underscored the importance of the forum which brings unions, students and the VC together to rub minds on the progress of the school.