The management of the University of Ilorin has concluded plans to bring the African Centre for Herbal Research, Ilorin (ACHRI) to the institution.
Among other things, the Herbal Research Centre is envisioned to conduct relevant research on African flora; stimulate research in herbal resources through the organisation of workshops and symposia; collate research proposals for funding Centres; advise government in collaboration with other stakeholders and relevant agencies on issues related to exploitation of African herbal resources and maintain the research laboratory.
Pending the assumption of duty of the substantive Director of the Centre, Prof. (Mrs.) Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, has been appointed to coordinate the activities of the Centre.
In a chat with Unilorin Bulletin last week, Prof. Bakare-Odunola said, “Already six hectares of farmlands for six herbs have been identified, cleared, harrowed and cultivated to supply the Centre with materials for initial research and commercial resources”.
These six herbs, identified and selected due to their medicinal and nutritional properties include zingiber officinale (ginger), hibiscuss sabdariffa (rosette), telfaria occidentalis (flutted pumpkin), moringa oleifera (moringa), ocimum gratissimum (sweet basil) and vernomia amygdalina (bitter leaf).
Prof. Bakare-Odunola also disclosed that irrigation infrastructure will soon be installed.
The Coordinator further disclosed that an office complex within the Central Research Laboratories has already been furnished in readiness for the take-off of the Centre
The Centre, when fully operational, will be under the Chairmanship of the incumbent Chairman of the U6 Consortium. He will be supported by a Deputy Chairman who shall be the Vice-Chancellor of the host institution, the University of Ilorin.
The Governing Board shall comprise the Director, representatives of founding member-institutions, three members of the U6 Consortium elected on a three-year basis, a representative of the African Academy of Science, one researcher from the staff, the Centre Secretary, a representative of the Nigeria Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA), a representative of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), a representative of the Africa Union Commission, as well as a representative of the Federal Ministry of Health.
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