The Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, and Chancellor of Academic Orders, Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo, presided over on September 17, 2026, at the University of Yaounde I, the official opening ceremony of the National Symposium on the Valorization of Cameroonian Traditional Pharmacopoeia.
Held under the theme “Valorization of traditional pharmacopoeia: A strategic lever for promoting Made in Cameroon,” the event brought together university researchers, traditional healers, healthcare professionals, and government representatives at the Amphitheater 700 of the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to explore ways to transform ancestral knowledge into a modern economic force.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, the Secretary-General of MINRESI highlighted the vast potential of local traditional remedies to bolster national health self-reliance and preserve cultural heritage. She urged stakeholders to step up scientific research, secure legal protection for indigenous knowledge, and establish strong synergies between traditional practices and modern medicine.
In his keynote address, the Minister of State situated the conference within the policy directions set by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya, regarding healthcare development and the optimal use of national resources.
Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo emphasized that traditional pharmacopoeia spans multiple sectors including public health, academic research, innovation, industry, and commerce. He also insisted on applying rigorous scientific standards to traditional medicine. He specifically stressed the imperative of characterizing active ingredients, establishing standardized dosages, identifying side effects, and upholding strict ethical guidelines.
This initiative comes at a pivotal moment, following the landmark legislation passed on December 23, 2024 (Law No. 2024/018), which regulates the practice and organization of traditional medicine in Cameroon. The keynote lecture, delivered by Emmanuel Albert Mpondo Mpondo, Emeritus Professor of Pharmacognosy, addressed the development of the national pharmaceutical industry through university training, targeted research, and entrepreneurship focused on local medicinal plants.
The symposium concluded with the adoption of 55 action-oriented resolutions structured around four primary thematic axes. These measures aim to strengthen the legal framework, accelerate research and development, and integrate traditional pharmacopoeia into mainstream national healthcare and industrial strategies, helping propel Cameroon toward its 2035 Emerging Nation vision.
