Conference

Communiqué Issued at the Close of the Maiden ACHRI International Conference & Workshop Held from 8 – 11 December 2025 at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Theme: “Heralding Holistic Healing and Health Through Herbs – 5Hs”

Following the successful convening of the Maiden ACHRI International Conference and Workshop, which brought together pharmaceutical scientists, clinicians, herbal producers, regulators, researchers, policymakers, and academics, we, the participants, hereby issue this seven-point communiqué:

1.  Call for Strengthened Regulatory Frameworks: We urge national regulatory bodies to strengthen and harmonize frameworks for the registration, distribution, and post-market surveillance of herbal medicines. Adherence to international standards of Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) must be mandated to ensure quality, traceability, and batch consistency from farm to final herbal-based product.

2.  Support for Innovation and Commercialization: We align with the call for deepened “town and gown” collaboration to translate academic research into product-oriented solutions. We encourage partnerships that support the development of novel, home-grown herbal drug candidates and facilitate their pathway to market.

3.  Commitment to Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine: We affirm the critical need to advance multidisciplinary research into the biochemical mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety of herbal remedies. We resolve to promote robust clinical studies, particularly in integrative medicine, to establish standardized dosage, therapeutic windows, and scientific validation for herbal products.

4.  Investment in Capacity Building and Ethics: We advocate for the institutionalization of continuous professional development and targeted training programs in botanical identification, metabolite stability, quality control, and ethical standards. A national ethical framework for herbal medicine research, emphasizing community engagement and participant protection, must be adopted to guide practice and innovation.

5.  Promotion of Strategic Collaboration: We endorse the formation of a sustained national and regional network of researchers, clinicians, industry, and regulators. Such collaboration is essential to accelerate the development of standardized formulations, harmonize regulatory standards, drive joint research projects, and integrate validated herbal products into primary and complementary healthcare systems.

6.  Enhancement of Public Awareness and Safety: We commit to increasing public sensitization on the appropriate use, dosage, and potential interactions of herbal remedies. Misconceptions must be addressed through correct, evidence-based information to promote safe self-care and reduce misuse, thereby enhancing patient safety.

7.  Pledge for Action and Follow-through: We support the establishment of a dedicated working group to translate these resolutions into actionable strategies with clear timelines. We call for periodic progress reviews and the wide dissemination of conference proceedings to ensure accountability and sustained momentum in advancing the herbal medicine ecosystem for holistic health.

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Dr. N. S. Njinga

COC Chairman

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Prof. O. Atolani

Maiden ACHRI International Conference & Workshop 2025

ACHRI Coordinator