Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has called on Nigeria’s leading health research institutions to support a groundbreaking study that could lead to a cure for brain cancer.
The minister made the appeal during a virtual meeting with heads of 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), alongside scientists from Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, under the Centre for Advanced Medical Research and Training (CAMRET).
Dr. Salako explained that the call followed a promising scientific breakthrough—the discovery of a natural plant extract capable of killing brain cancer cells, particularly glioblastoma multiforme, one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of brain cancer.
“This discovery is a significant step forward in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare and traditional medicine research,” Dr. Salako said, emphasizing the need to harness the country’s vast herbal medicine potential. He urged the CAMRET team to submit a detailed proposal outlining their research needs so that the ministry can provide necessary support.
The minister commended the scientists for their dedication and urged them to remain steadfast until the potential cure is ready for clinical use.
According to Dr. Amina Yusuf Jega, who leads the CAMRET team, the cancer-fighting compound was extracted from a plant native to North-West Nigeria. Laboratory tests showed that the extract destroyed brain cancer cells within 48 hours at specific doses. She added that ongoing tests on other cancers—breast, liver, colon, cervical, leukemia, and lung cancers—have all produced encouraging results.
Dr. Jega highlighted that glioblastoma multiforme is notoriously difficult to treat, with most patients surviving only about 15 months after diagnosis, underscoring the urgency of investing in the research.
Leaders of Nigeria’s top research bodies pledged their full support for the study.
- Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, Director General of NICRAT, said his institute will back the initiative in every possible way.
- Dr. Obi Adigwe, DG of NIPRD, announced that one CAMRET researcher would join a federal delegation to China in early 2026 for advanced cancer research training, and the team would also participate in a Stanford University scientific event in Nigeria in February 2026.
- Prof. John Obafunwa, DG of NIMR, expressed readiness to help test the treatment in human trials, noting that any improvement in survival rates beyond the current 12–15 months would be a “remarkable scientific success.”
The discovery has been hailed as a major milestone for Nigerian science, offering hope that the nation could soon develop a homegrown treatment for brain cancer—one with potential global impact.
RN
