Residents battling recurring infections and families burdened by rising healthcare costs may soon find renewed hope in nature, as a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Public Health at Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), Akungba Akoko, Prof. Festus Olajubu, has declared that herbal medicines offer promising solutions to the growing crisis of antimicrobial resistance.
Delivering the university’s 54th Inaugural Lecture on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Prof. Olajubu painted a troubling picture of a world where once-effective antibiotics are fast losing their power. The lecture, titled “The Unwinnable War Against Antimicrobial Resistance: Nature to the Rescue,” spotlighted the human cost of drug-resistant infections and the urgent need for alternative therapies.
According to him, many commonly used antibiotics have failed in recent years, leaving patients vulnerable to infections that were previously easy to treat. “Nature has a solution to all natural problems and illnesses,” he said, noting that the search for affordable, accessible and potent alternatives with minimal side effects led researchers to investigate plants and plant parts.
He revealed that the efficacy of many plant-based products against multidrug-resistant bacteria has been “proven beyond doubt,” positioning herbal remedies as viable complements — and in some cases alternatives — to synthetic antibiotics.
For families struggling with repeated hospital visits due to persistent infections, the professor’s message resonated strongly: solutions may lie closer to home than previously imagined. He advocated the cultivation of “herbal gardens” in individual backyards to allow easy access to fresh medicinal plants. He also called on public and private hospitals to allow herbal units to co-exist alongside pharmacy units.
However, Prof. Olajubu stressed that herbal medicine must be approached scientifically and responsibly. He urged stricter hygiene standards in the production of herbal products and called on governments to fund research into plant-based antibiotics. He further appealed for policies that would ease the licensing and registration of herbal medicines to make safe products more accessible.
Beyond promoting herbal solutions, the microbiologist addressed behaviors that worsen antimicrobial resistance. He warned individuals against self-medication and the use of leftover antibiotics, advising patients to always complete prescribed treatment courses. He urged drug outlets to demand valid prescriptions before dispensing antimicrobials.
Extending the warning to the agricultural sector, he cautioned veterinarians to ensure accurate diagnosis of animal infections before administering antibiotics and advocated a ban or strict control of antibiotics used for growth promotion in animals.
Prof. Olajubu defined antimicrobial resistance as a situation where antibiotics that previously cured infections become ineffective. He attributed the menace to overuse and misuse of antibiotics, poor sanitation and hygiene, weak infection prevention practices, environmental contamination, global travel and trade, inappropriate diagnostic practices, and indiscriminate agricultural and veterinary antibiotic use. He also noted that bacteria naturally adapt genetically, making resistance an evolving threat.
To curb the rapid spread of drug-resistant microbes, he recommended rational use of antimicrobials, vaccination to reduce future reliance on antibiotics, improved personal hygiene, and strict hospital infection control measures, including proper disinfection of surfaces and equipment. He also advocated proper wastewater treatment, enforcement of antimicrobial policies, public awareness campaigns in local languages, and massive investment in research into novel drugs and alternative therapies.
Emphasising a holistic approach, he said the most effective response to antimicrobial resistance must integrate human health systems, veterinary services, agricultural practices, and environmental management — a strategy widely known as the “One Health” approach.
He also called for the establishment of Departments of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in tertiary institutions to formalise research and training in herbal medicine.
Earlier, Chairman of the ceremony and Vice Chancellor of AAUA, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, described Prof. Olajubu as an accomplished scholar and researcher who has distinguished himself in academia. He noted that inaugural lectures provide opportunities for professors to share their research journeys and propose solutions that benefit society.
Prof. Ige urged attendees to embrace the lessons from the lecture, stressing that safeguarding public health requires collective responsibility.
As antibiotic resistance continues to threaten lives globally, Prof. Olajubu’s message was clear: while science fights back, nature may yet provide humanity with powerful tools — if properly researched, regulated and responsibly used.
