In a landmark achievement, Professor Martins Emeje, Director-General/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), and Professor Mingzhong Li of De Montfort University, United Kingdom, have jointly won a prestigious International Competitive Research Grant focused on advanced pharmaceutical research.
Professor Emeje, a distinguished expert in Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine with over 200 publications and patents, pioneered Nigeria’s first nanomedicine center and was appointed Co-Chair of the WHO Advisory Group on Traditional Medicine in two months ago. Professor Li, a leading researcher at DMU’s Leicester School of Pharmacy, specializes in Crystal Engineering and Drug Delivery, focusing on improving pharmaceutical production quality and cost-effectiveness through research into tablet formulation and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) properties.
The grant aims to foster collaborative research, promote capacity building, and facilitate knowledge exchange in modern pharmaceutical innovation and natural medicine development.
As part of the grant activities, NNMDA participated in an academic exchange programme hosted at De Montfort University, United Kingdom. Representing NNMDA, Dr. Eneojo Ogu, Senior Technical Assistant to Professor Emeje, delivered a presentation on the cultivation of Nigerian medicinal plants with antimalarial properties. The session highlighted sustainable cultivation practices, scientific validation of traditional remedies, local pharmaceutical production, and the advancement of natural medicine development across Africa.
With malaria remaining a major public health challenge, plant-based antimalarial research continues to contribute to drug discovery, economic growth, and improved healthcare outcomes in Nigeria and the continent.
Dr. Ogu also gained hands-on exposure to advanced pharmaceutical facilities and innovative co-crystal drug formulation techniques, enhancing drug solubility, stability, and bioavailability—key factors in therapeutic effectiveness. Laboratory sessions included advanced equipment use, formulation processes, quality control, and analytical testing methods.
This International Competitive Research Grant reinforces the growing partnership between NNMDA and De Montfort University and strengthens NNMDA’s mandate to advance evidence-based research, integrate global pharmaceutical innovation with Nigeria’s medicinal plant resources, and position Nigeria as a leading contributor to traditional medicine research and antimalarial drug development worldwide.
This achievement highlights the global recognition of Nigeria’s research excellence and marks a proud moment for the country’s scientific community.
Obasi E.H
Innovation, Data &ICT Support
