The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Seddi Sebastian Maimako, on Monday, disclosed that the university has already developed herbal for the dreaded coronavirus but it is yet to be approved by the relevant authorities.
Prof. Maimako who disclosed this in a press conference held at the university said the development was a response to the pandemic and a passion to enhance the reputation of the institution.
- Many feared dead, houses burnt as IPOB, police, army clash in Orlu
- FG approves recruitment of 30,000 agric graduates for NALDA
He said, “The University’s Centre, African Centre of Excellence in Phytomedicine Research and Development (ACEPRD), has researched into the Coronavirus and has developed a set of herbal Teas to combat the health menace. The COVID Tea has been registered with the Federal Ministry of Trade, Commerce, and Industry. It has also been registered with NAFDAC and is awaiting certificate and approval for its commercialization.
Prof. Maimako however frowned at some online media platforms which reported that the Herbal Tea had been approved by the University, describing the report as an attempt to tarnish the image and integrity of the University, adding that the research centre did not say it had approved the Herbal Tea for public consumption.
He said, ” The University was targeted by a few individuals using a section of the media to unfairly criticize us on an issue that they do not possess sufficient information about. The internal memorandum about the research cited by some media was for internal use. It was addressed to the university community for its information as one of the giant strides of the University in response to COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Vice-Chancellor however said, the centre in its quest to promote research and development, was in partnership with more than 16 research organizations including Salford and Sheffield Universities in the UK.