Africa Centre of Excellence in Phytomedicine Research and Development, University of Jos, Nigeria.

Prof. J.C AguiyiCentre Leader

ACE/AAU WORKSHOP- World Bank Supported

November 18, 2015, Cotonou, Benin Republic

University of Jos

• The University of Jos is situated in Jos, Plateau State in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria. Jos is a city at an elevation of about 1, 238 metres/4, 062 feet high above sea level. It has a population of 900, 000 residents based on the 2006 census.

 • The University of Jos was founded in November 1971 as a

campus of the University of Ibadan. It became a full-fledged University established under the Nigerian University Act U8 in 1975.

 • The Institution currently has 12 Faculties: Faculties of

Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical Sciences, Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Education, Arts, Social Sciences, Law and Management Sciences with over 21,374 regular students apart from Postgraduate, sandwich and diploma students.

 

Phytomedicine Training, Research and Development• The global interest in phytomedicine has created a large market

for plant-derived remedies that could be exploited for the local production of cost-effective medicines for healthcare and its integration into conventional medicine.

• ACEPRD as a functional research and drug development centre is poised to exploit the real potentials of phytomedicine.

• Through training and research to validate the institutional and legal frameworks for their production and use in Nigeria and Africa.

• This feat will surely reduce the cost of healthcare and importation of medicines for African neglected diseases.

The Raw Materials• Raw materials and resources must be sustained by

way of cultivation, conservation and preservation.

• Training of local farmers on the methods of cultivation, conservation, harvesting and storage.

• Mushroom farm on 1.2 hectares of land in the University Jos reserved area.

• Artemisia and other medicinal plants on 1,300 hectares of land in Gangnim, Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Objectives of the

ACEPRD• Using African knowledge and new scientific tools and biotechnology to solve African health problems.

• Improvement of life expectancy.

• Increase in socio-economic development of the less privileged rural dwellers.

• National development goals through empowerment of men and women.

Human Resource Development

DLI 2.2 and 2.3: Short-term training courses in:

Traditional medicine practice

Bioinformatics and Genomics

Protein purification methods

Vaccinology and Venomics

Clinical trials in Phytomedicine

Separation techniques in Phytomedicine

Phytoremediation.

(Time frame: 1 week).

Human Resource Development (Contd.)Bioinformatics training for faculty and postgraduate students

Human Resources Development (Contd.)• Postgraduate Diploma in Medicinal Chemistry and Clinical

Pharmacy. (Time frame: 12 months).

• M.Sc. in Phytomedicine, Clinical Pharmacy and Bioinformatics and Genomics, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Biotechnology and other existing related courses. (Time frame: 12 – 18 months).

• Ph.D. in Phytomedicine, Clinical Pharmacy and Bioinformatics and Genomics Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Biotechnology and other existing related courses. (Time frame: 36 months).

• Young scientists have been selected for career development in infectious diseases, plant molecular biology, molecular basis of biological functions, environmental biotechnology and health sociology.

Student enrolment

Group Photo of some of the ACEPRD Students

Student enrolment (Contd.)S/No Country M.Sc PhD Male Femal

eTotal

i. Togo 4 - 1 3 4

ii. DR Congo 2 - 2 - 2

iii. Liberia 3 - 2 1 3

iv. Nigeria 80 14 53 41 94

Incentives for students

• Accommodation and sub-existence.

• Bench fee

• Consummables and reagents

• Thesis/Dissertation preparation cost

Focused Research• Anti-snake venom vaccine

• Mushroom screening for medicine development against diabetes and trypanosomiasis (Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD)

• Anti-fertility

• Erectile dysfunction

• Ecipients from maize

• Gums for formulation

• Rhumatoid Arthritis

• Hypertension

New Courses with approvals

• M.Sc/PhD in Clinical Pharmacy

• M.Sc/PhD in Phytomedicine (Pharmacognosy)

New courses awaiting senate curriculum committee approval- M.Sc/PhD in Biotechnology

- M.Sc/PhD in Bioinformatics and Genomics

- M.Sc/PhD in Pharmaceutical Microbiology

Outreaches

• Regional Training of TM Practitioners in drug evaluation, quality assurance in Lome.

• Gender and Women Empowerment Programme for Improved Phytomedicine Research and Training in Lome.

Lome Faculty/TMP Training• This event was held in Hotel St. Mannick in Lome in

September 9-11, 2015; it was hosted by our partner institution, the University of Lome.

Regional Research Conference

Regional Conference (Contd.)

Regional Conference (Contd.)

Regional Conference (Contd.)

Regional Conference (Contd.)

Signed MOU/Partnership- Universities

• University of Lome, Togo

• University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic

• Buea University, Cameroun

• Universite du Montaigne, Cameroun

• Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

• Sheffield Hallam University, UK

• Ayurvedic University, New Jersey, U.S.A

• University of Siena, Italy

- Private Sector

• Biodiversity Cultivation and Development Programme (BDCP), Abuja, Nigeria

Signed MOU/Partnership (Contd.)• Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),

South Africa

-Industry• Neimeth Pharmaceutical Ltd.

• Europharm Industries Ltd.

Signed MOU/Partnership (Contd.)with Ayurvedic University, U.S.A

Partnership Donation By Ayurvedic University, U.S.A (2 Bioreactors)

Publications• 4 publications in reputable Journals

• Phytochemical Screening and in vivo Antiplasmodial Sensitivity Study of Locally Cultivated Artemisia annua Leaf Extract Against Plasmodium berghei – American Journal of Ethnomedicine

• Acute toxicity studies of locally cultivated artemesia annua leaf extract in rats - World Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

• Anti-Plasmodial Acitivity of the Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of the fruiting Bodies of lentinus submidus - Journal of Pharmacy and Clinical Sciences

• Hypoglycaemic and antioxidant effects of the basidomycetes Lyophyllum connatum (Lyophyllaceae) and Tuber melanosporum (Tuberaceae) in mice - Journal of Pharmacy and Bioresources

Award/Prize• Gambian Consultancy to train students in

phytomedicine.

• National Office of Technology Acquisition Programme (NOTAP) and International Institute for Training, Research and Economic Development (IITRED) Research prize 2015.

Procurement• 2 Project Vehicles

• Supply of LAN equipment and accessories for connectivity

• Video Conference equipment

• Smart boards for PG lecture halls

• Fencing of mushroom farm

• Refurbishing of animal house

• Supply office and boardroom furniture

• Refurbishing of offices and boardroom

• Other lists of equipment, chemicals, reagents and consumables have been compiled for supply

Project vehicles

Challenges

• Incentivizing faculty members and HODs involved in the teaching and supervision of postgraduate students

• International accreditation

• Language barrier for francophone partner student

Solutions to Challenges• Pay honorarium for teaching and supervision

• Development of English language for special students

• To apply for American pharmacy education accreditation

Expectations for 2016• Mushroom, medicinal plant cultivation and research grants as a source of

IGR

• More quality students from both regional and national to be admitted

• Sign MOU with a Ukrainian University

• Procurement of more state-of-the-art equipment

• Internship with industries to commence

• Intensify research

• Publish more papers in reputable journals

• Faculty/Student exchange to be effective

• International accreditation

• Run short courses and outreaches

Merci!

Thank you!

Mun gode!