BY: NASIRU MOHAMMED WAZIRI, KANO
In a landmark development that could reshape global medicine, Dr. Amina Yusuf Jega, a pharmacist from Northern Nigeria, has reportedly discovered a cure for brain cancer—one of the world’s deadliest and most elusive diseases.
For over a century, scientists and medical researchers across the globe have sought answers to the complex challenge of brain cancer, a disease notorious for its high mortality rate and resistance to treatment. Until now, no definitive cure had been achieved, despite groundbreaking progress in surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy over the past five decades.
Brain cancer remains one of the most life-threatening illnesses, affecting over 308,000 people annually worldwide and claiming the lives of about 251,000 patients, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Cancer Observatory. The difficulty in treating the disease stems largely from the brain’s delicate structure and the blood–brain barrier, which prevents many drugs from effectively targeting tumors.
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Despite recent advances in immunotherapy, genetic research, and experimental treatments, a complete cure has remained out of reach—until the breakthrough led by Dr. Jega at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS).
Her research team identified and developed a novel treatment derived from a common Nigerian plant, which has shown remarkable effectiveness in reversing brain cancer. Laboratory trials conducted in the United States reportedly confirmed the drug’s potential, with “overwhelming and promising” results. Beyond brain cancer, the discovery also holds potential for treating at least four other types of cancer.
The milestone was formally presented during a national science and innovation exhibition in Abuja, drawing the attention of both Nigerian authorities and the international medical community.
Observers describe Dr. Jega’s achievement as a major boost not only for Nigeria’s healthcare research but also for the country’s aspirations toward building a knowledge-driven economy.
If independently verified and approved for clinical application, this discovery could represent one of the most significant medical breakthroughs of the century—positioning Nigeria at the forefront of global cancer research and offering hope to millions of patients worl-wide