Zaria, Nigeria – Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, proudly celebrates one of its distinguished scholars, Professor Hadiza Nuhu, whose pioneering research led to the development of HERB 25, a Nigerian-made herbal anti-malaria medicine that has made a significant contribution to the fight against malaria.
Professor Hadiza Nuhu is a multiple award-winning Associate Professor of Pharmacy, researcher, academic, philanthropist, mentor, and herbal medicine practitioner. She currently serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she has devoted her career to advancing pharmaceutical research and drug development.
Born on August 23, 1965, in Kano State, Professor Nuhu obtained her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmacognosy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She also holds a Certificate in Information Technology from Newcastle College, United Kingdom.
She is an active member of the Nigerian Society of Pharmacognosy and the Botanical Society of Nigeria. In addition, she serves as the Research Director of the Association of Commonwealth Traditional Medicine Practitioners, West Africa.
After 12 years of intensive research, Professor Nuhu achieved a major scientific breakthrough in 2009 with the development of HERB 25, an anti-malaria medicine formulated from a carefully screened combination of medicinal herbs traditionally used in Nigeria for malaria treatment. According to her, HERB 25 is "an enhanced ethnomedical preparation from a screened combination of herbs that have been used in Nigeria traditionally to treat malaria."
The medicine is designed to treat chloroquine-resistant malaria, is registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and is conveniently dispensed in tea bags for preparation with hot water. The innovation marked a significant milestone, becoming one of the first successful herbal anti-malaria drugs developed by a Nigerian university.
Professor Nuhu's outstanding achievement has earned her several prestigious honours, including the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Local Content Award (2008), OPAMSA Vision 20:2020 Award (2009), the African Professional Managers Award, and the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
Her remarkable contributions to healthcare, research, and education continue to inspire young scientists and reaffirm the vital role of Nigerian researchers in developing indigenous solutions to public health challenges.
Adeola Kunle
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