A retired Professor of Phytochemistry and Organic Chemistry at the University of Ibadan and foremost researcher in essential oils in Nigeria, Professor Olusegun Ekundayo, FAS, has called for increased investment in research, innovation and human capacity development to unlock Nigeria’s potential in the essential oils industry.
He made this call while delivering a plenary lecture titled: “Research, Innovation and Human Capacity Development for Advancing Nigeria’s Essential Oil Industry” at the First National Symposium of the Society of Essential Oil Distillers and Analysts (SEODA).
Professor Ekundayo noted that essential oils have been valued for thousands of years, with applications in healthcare, preservation, cosmetics, spirituality and commerce.
He said the renewed scientific interest in these natural products has created opportunities for their wider application in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and beverages, agriculture, aromatherapy and other industries.
He explained that essential oils are highly concentrated volatile compounds extracted from various parts of plants, including leaves, flowers, bark, roots, fruits and seeds, with biological properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and insecticidal activities.
According to him, the growing global preference for natural and environmentally friendly products has created significant opportunities for research, innovation and industrial expansion in the sector.
The retired don stressed that essential oils research is multidisciplinary and it requires the contributions of chemists, pharmacologists, microbiologists, agricultural scientists, food scientists and environmental scientists.
He emphasized the importance of connecting indigenous knowledge with modern scientific research, noting that scientific validation of traditional knowledge could preserve cultural heritage while creating economic opportunities for local communities.
The Professor of Phytochemistry and Organic Chemistry identified standardization, quality assurance, safety, sustainability and inadequate research investment among the challenges confronting the industry.
He explained that variations in plant species, cultivation methods, harvesting periods, extraction techniques and storage conditions also affect the quality and chemical composition of essential oils, making standardization and quality assurance critical to the industry’s development.
He, therefore, called for reliable analytical methods, comprehensive toxicological studies and clinical trials to establish the safety, efficacy, dosage and possible interactions of essential oil products.
Professor Ekundayo cautioned against excessive dependence on wild harvesting, urging stakeholders to promote sustainable cultivation, biodiversity conservation, responsible harvesting and environmentally friendly extraction technologies.
He acknowledged that Nigeria is richly endowed with aromatic and medicinal plants, including lemongrass, eucalyptus, basil, ginger, clove, peppermint, scent leaf and citrus species, which could provide the raw materials for a competitive essential oils industry.
To harness these resources, he advocated the development of a National Essential Oils Development Policy to provide a coordinated framework for research, investment, production, regulation, quality assurance and export promotion.
He also proposed the establishment of a National Centre for Essential Oils Research and Innovation to serve as a hub for multidisciplinary research, technology development, product formulation, pilot-scale processing, quality assurance and collaboration among universities, research institutes and industry.
The retired don also called for increased investment in research and development through competitive research grants, industry-led research, patent development, commercialization of research outputs, pilot production facilities and technology transfer initiatives.
He further advocated specialized training in aromatic plant cultivation, modern distillation technologies, analytical chemistry, quality assurance, product development, entrepreneurship and international marketing.
Professor Ekundayo urged government to facilitate access to affordable finance for farmers, processors, entrepreneurs and youth-led enterprises, while encouraging investment in modern distillation facilities, extraction laboratories, cosmetic manufacturing, pharmaceutical ingredient production, and fragrance and flavour industries.
Given the prevalence of new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, metabolomics, biotechnology, nanotechnology, precision agriculture and advanced extraction techniques, the essential oils expert said essential oil research and production could be transformed.
Earlier in her welcome address at the symposium, the Chairperson of SEODA, Professor Sherifat Adeyinka Aboaba, said the symposium marked a significant milestone in the Society’s efforts to position Nigeria as a major player in the global essential oils industry.
She disclosed that SEODA was established in 2019 and has launched the first Compendium of Essential Oil Research in Nigeria, featuring more than 400 abstracts from 20 contributors to serve as a research resource for students, lecturers and industrialists.
Professor Aboaba said that the abundant aromatic and medicinal plant resources in Nigeria offered enormous opportunities for economic development, lamenting that despite the country’s rich biodiversity, its participation in the global essential oils market remained relatively modest, with much of its natural wealth either underutilized or exported with limited value addition.
She stated that the symposium was designed as a platform for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, networking and collaboration among stakeholders in the essential oils sector.
The symposium, themed: “Unlocking the Essential Oils Value Chain in Nigeria: Production and Commercialization for Sustainable Economic Growth,” also featured a keynote address, plenary lectures, and parallel technical sessions.
