One of Nigeria’s leading botanical scientists, Dr. Sharaibi Olubunmi Josephine, has explained how plants can speak—not in words, but in purpose—in a revelation that has now become a compelling symbol of her life’s work and global recognition.
She revealed that her journey into the world of plants began as a quiet curiosity during her undergraduate days at the University of Ibadan but soon evolved into a powerful calling that would take her across continents. “Plants speak,” she said, “and my role has always been to help others hear them—through medicine, ecology, and taxonomy.”
What started as long hours in university labs and field expeditions eventually grew into a body of work that has drawn international acclaim. From receiving the highly competitive Govan Mbeki Postdoctoral Fellowship in South Africa to presenting her research in the United States, Dr. Sharaibi’s story is one of transformation—of how one woman listened closely to nature and was changed by it.
The 2016 fellowship, awarded by the University of Fort Hare and backed by the South African government, marked a turning point. It offered not just funding but validation—recognition that her research into indigenous medicinal plants had relevance far beyond Nigeria.
“That moment told me my work mattered,” she shared. “It wasn’t just for shelves. It was for people, for health, for healing.”
She went on to participate in high-impact research workshops on DNA barcoding and phytomedicine and received multiple international travel grants to showcase her work to global audiences—from Alaska to Wisconsin and Salt Lake City—each time reaffirming that the wisdom of African plants belongs in global health conversations.
Yet through it all, Dr. Sharaibi never lost her grounding. Between Lagos and Ilesha, between motherhood and mentorship, she continues to teach, research, and inspire.
At Lagos State University, where she now lectures, and at the Pan African University Life and Earth Institute, where she teaches part-time, she has designed over 15 specialized courses and mentored dozens of young scientists who see in her a blend of brilliance and humility.
According to her, the message remains clear: Nigeria’s future lies not in fossil fuels but in the untapped wealth of its knowledge, biodiversity, and people.m
“The real treasure of this nation is its intellectual capital,” she says. “And science—especially plant science—holds the key to both health and prosperity.
Her passion for indigenous remedies is not only rooted in science but in a deep respect for tradition and local knowledge.
Her research bridges the gap between folklore and pharmacology, taking age-old herbal practices and subjecting them to rigorous scientific testing to meet global health standards.
“We can’t afford to lose our heritage in the name of modernization,” she said. “There’s healing in our history—if only we dare to document and develop it.”
With her eyes set on the future, Dr. Sharaibi is now championing curriculum reforms that emphasize hands-on, locally relevant science education across Nigerian institutions.
She believes the next generation must be equipped not just to memorize, but to innovate—to build solutions that speak directly to African realities.
“If we teach science in a way that is rooted in our environment and needs,” she says, “we won’t just be producing graduates—we’ll be producing problem-solvers.
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