A Canada-based Nigerian scientist has urged members of the Nigerian diaspora and the global research community to collaborate in harnessing the country’s biodiversity for the development of affordable treatments for type-2 diabetes.

Temitope Aribigbola said stronger ties between Nigerian researchers and international institutions could speed up the search for new therapies by promoting the exchange of expertise, data and technology. He stressed that diaspora scientists and professionals could play a key role in mobilising resources and building research capacity.

Aribigbola called for national investment in computational drug discovery, clinical trials for indigenous plants, and the integration of herbal medicine into official treatment guidelines. He also recommended partnerships with local farmers to cultivate and sustainably harvest plants with medicinal potential.

“By leveraging our biodiversity with modern drug discovery methods, we can identify active compounds that could be developed into effective and affordable treatments for diseases such as type-2 diabetes,” he said.

His latest study used computer modelling to investigate the n-butanol fraction of *Blighia welwitschii* (Hiern) leaves. The analysis identified bioactive compounds capable of inhibiting 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), an enzyme linked to high blood sugar and insulin resistance.

The compounds – including rutin, cyanidin-3-o-glycoside, quercetin-3-o-glycoside, quercetin, 3-rutinoside, isorhamnetin, cyanidin and balan – were shown to bind to and inhibit the enzyme, potentially improving insulin sensitivity and glucose control.

According to Aribigbola, 11β-HSD1 is increasingly recognised as a promising therapeutic target because of its role in cortisol production in body tissues. Excess cortisol has been linked to worsening metabolic conditions, including type-2 diabetes.

Nigeria, like many countries, is facing a rise in type-2 diabetes cases, driven by dietary changes, urbanisation and limited access to preventive healthcare. Current treatments, while effective, can be costly and carry side effects, leaving many patients in need of more accessible alternatives.

Aribigbola said plant-based solutions sourced from Nigeria’s biodiversity could be both cost-effective and culturally familiar. He stressed that moving research from computer-based predictions to real-world treatments would require political will, dedicated funding and coordinated action between local institutions, diaspora networks and international partners.

“These findings are more than scientific possibilities; they are pathways to locally driven solutions,” he said. “Harnessing the expertise and support of the Nigerian diaspora could be decisive in turning them into treatments that benefit patients.”

The scientist’s appeal comes amid growing global interest in Africa’s medicinal plants and their potential role in combating chronic diseases.