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Africa’s Hidden Green Pharmacy: Time to Turn Plants Into Global Products, Researcher Says
Africa’s Hidden Green Pharmacy: Time to Turn Plants Into Global Products, Researcher Says
Sputnik Africa
Africa’s wealth of medicinal plants is driving scientific innovation, healthcare, and economic growth as demand for herbal medicines rises. With industry... 02.07.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-07-02T10:44+0200
2026-07-02T10:44+0200
2026-07-02T10:44+0200
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Africa’s Hidden Green Pharmacy: Time to Turn Plants Into Global Products, Researcher Says
Sputnik Africa
Africa’s wealth of medicinal plants is driving scientific innovation, healthcare, and economic growth as demand for herbal medicines rises. With industry projections placing the global market above $250 billion by 2030, experts say Africa can turn its biodiversity into globally competitive health solutions.
Speaking to Global South Pole, Dr. Joy Odimegwu, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacognosy at the University of Lagos, said realizing that potential will require greater investment in research, scientific standardization, and local manufacturing, enabling Africa to move beyond exporting raw medicinal plants and instead produce high-value healthcare products.Dr. Odimegwu said commercializing scientifically validated herbal products would allow African countries to capture greater value from their natural resources while strengthening healthcare systems, creating jobs and positioning the continent as a global leader in plant-based medicine.To listen to the whole discussion, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict, Overcast, and Mave Stream.► Check out all the episodes of Global South Pole
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lagos, africa, podcasts, nigeria, medicine, health, healthcare, vaccine, technology, research, innovation, drugs, science, аудио
Africa’s Hidden Green Pharmacy: Time to Turn Plants Into Global Products, Researcher Says
Aliyu Bello
Correspondent, Podcast Host
Africa’s wealth of medicinal plants is driving scientific innovation, healthcare, and economic growth as demand for herbal medicines rises. With industry projections placing the global market above $250 billion by 2030, experts say Africa can turn its biodiversity into globally competitive health solutions.
Speaking to Global South Pole, Dr. Joy Odimegwu, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacognosy at the University of Lagos, said realizing that potential will require greater investment in research, scientific standardization, and local manufacturing, enabling Africa to move beyond exporting raw medicinal plants and instead produce high-value healthcare products.
Dr. Odimegwu said commercializing scientifically validated herbal products would allow African countries to capture greater value from their natural resources while strengthening healthcare systems, creating jobs and positioning the continent as a global leader in plant-based medicine.
“The herbal medicine market is huge. And like you said, it’s not just what is in our backyard. You know, we are so used to it because we have the gardens, we have the vegetables, we have the spices, and it looks so common, but when we do the research, we see that those molecules, those active constituents are powerful. And that nature works slowly but powerfully. So Africa’s role should be at the forefront because it’s here that you have the biodiversity of the plants. We need to stop exporting raw materials. We need to formulate the products in Africa and export the product itself,” Dr. Odimegwu stressed.
To listen to the whole discussion, tune in to the
Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by
Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of Global South Pole 
