The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has reiterated the call for stronger collaboration between academia and herbal practitioners, urging a shift towards product-oriented researches.

Prof. Egbewole made the call while speaking at the maiden International Conference and Workshop of the African Centre for Herbal Research, Ilorin (ACHRI),  held  at the University of Ilorin between December 8 and 11, 2025.

The Vice Chancellor told participants at the Conference to conduct researches that move “beyond academic exercises” to develop viable, home-grown health solutions.

The Conference, which brought together over 200 Scientists, Clinicians, Pharmacists, Chemists, Herbal Practitioners, and Policymakers from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Ghana, India, Cameroon, and beyond, aimed at advancing and standardising herbal medicine in Nigeria and Africa.

The historic event was themed “Heralding Holistic Healing and Health Through Herbs – 5Hs.”

ACHRI is a product of U6+ Consortium of some universities.

In his keynote address, Professor Emeritus Anthony J. Afolayan of South Africa’s University of Fort Hare, spoke on “Globalising Tropical Medicine.”

The plenary sessions delved into critical topics such as the biochemical mechanisms of herbs, their efficacy and safety, and their powerful role in integrative oncology.

Speaking at the panel session, a nephrologist at the Universiry of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Prof. Timothy Olanrewaju reiterated the need for evidence-based research to establish the efficacy and safety of herbal products in order to avoid side effects particularly on the kidney.

The rigorous discussions at the conference coalesced to actionable recommendations, including: strengthening herbal research; promoting multidisciplinary studies to validate the mechanisms of action of herbal compounds, support clinical trials, enhancing regulation: mandating Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) and cGMP to ensure quality from farm to final product.