{{Short description|Nigerian pain-relief powder and company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} '''Alabukun''' is a popular indigenous Nigerian analgesic powder first produced in 1918 by Jacob Sogboyega Odulate in Abeokuta, Ogun State.<ref name=untold>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-16 |title=The untold 100-year old story of Nigeria's first homegrown modern drug |url=https://qz.com/africa/1461436/alabukuns-untold-story-of-a-successful-nigerian-business |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=Quartz |language=en}}</ref> It was created to relieve pain and headaches. It is considered the oldest pharmaceutical product in Africa and Nigeria and comes from the oldest surviving indigenous Nigerian-founded company.<ref name=untold/> It is said to be the oldest indigenous founded company in sub-Saharan Africa. Alabukun became a staple household medicine across Nigeria and in parts of West Africa, like Benin, Togo and Ghana. Alabukun means "the blessed one" or "giver of grace" in Yoruba.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ojigbo |first=Solomon |date=2018-06-11 |title=Chief Jacob Odulate: Alchemist of the Famous Alabukun Powder |url=http://pharmanewsonline.com/chief-jacob-odulate-alchemist-of-the-famous-alabukun-powder/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=Pharmanews |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Toast Editorial |date=2025-09-23 |title=Alabukun: The Oldest Indigenous Nigerian Brand |url=https://toast.ng/alabukun/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=Toast Creative Studios |language=en-US}}</ref> It was sold in glass bottle form, before the modern plastic jars and sachet versions. The alabukun remains in powder form to he dissolved in water, as of old.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng/products/details/4763?utm_source |title=Product Details: Alabukun Powder |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng}}</ref>
In addition to the flagship Alabukun Powder, Jacob Odulate developed several other products under the Alabukun brand. These included Alabukun Mentholine, a mentholated balm, and the Alabukun Almanac, an annual publication distributed across Nigeria that helped promote the brand and its remedies. Odulate's company also produced a range of other patent medicines and preparations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newdawn |date=2019-09-16 |title=The story of Alabukun inventor |url=https://www.newdawnngr.com/2019/09/16/the-story-of-alabukun-inventor/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=New Dawn Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref> Over 100 years later, Alabukun is still sold in stores, pharmacies and open markets in Nigeria, West Africa and among the diaspora in Europe and North America.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chief Jacob Sogboyega Odulate – DAWN Commission |url=https://dawncommission.org/chief-jacob-sogboyega-odulate/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Nigerian brands Category:Analgesics Category:Products introduced in 1918 Category:Traditional African medicine Category:Companies established in 1918 Category:Yoruba culture