{{Short description|Nigerian pharmacologist and researcher (1946–2022)}} {{good article}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Charles Obadiah Nimma Wambebe | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NGA|size=100%|sep=,|CON|OFR}} | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|8|8|df=y}} | birth_place = Emi Tsado, Kogi State, Nigeria | death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|11|9|1946|8|8|df=y}} | death_place = Quincy, Massachusetts, United States | fields = Pharmacology | workplaces = Ahmadu Bello University, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Tshwane University of Technology, Makerere University | alma_mater = Ahmadu Bello University | thesis_title = The role of dopamine in the central nervous system | thesis_year = 1979 | doctoral_advisor = | academic_advisors = | doctoral_students = | notable_students = | known_for = Development of Niprisan, a phytomedicine for sickle cell disorder | awards = {{hlist|The World Academy of Sciences Award in Medical Sciences|Commander of the Order of the Niger|Order of the Federal Republic}} | author_abbrev_bot = | author_abbrev_zoo = | spouse = Victoria Wambebe | children = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Charles Obadiah Nimma Wambebe''' {{post-nominals|country=NGA|size=90%|sep=,|CON|OFR}} (8 August 1946 – 9 November 2022) was a Nigerian professor of pharmacology who served as the director-general/chief executive officer of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) in Abuja. He contributed to the development of Niprisan, a phytomedicine for sickle cell disorder management, which led to The World Academy of Sciences Award in Medical Sciences. He also worked as a consultant in traditional medicine for various international organisations and held professorships at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa and Makerere University in Uganda.
== Early life and education == Wambebe was born on 8 August 1946 in the town of Emi Tsado, Kogi State, Nigeria.<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665">{{Cite news | last= | first= | title=Wambebe, father of modern 'herbalism' (1946–2022) |newspaper=The Guardian | date=6 December 2022 | url=https://guardian.ng/news/wambebe-father-of-modern-herbalism-1946-2022/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| access-date=25 December 2023}}</ref> He obtained his PhD in neuropharmacology from Ahmadu Bello University in 1979, with his studies focusing on the physiological roles of dopamine in the brain.<ref name="The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) 2023 s821">{{cite web | author=The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) | title=In memoriam | website=TWAS | date=27 October 2023 | url=https://twas.org/memoriam | access-date=25 December 2023}}</ref> He was a visiting professor of pharmacology at Georgetown University Medical Center and collaborated with the World Health Organization.<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" />
== Career and research == Wambebe was the director-general/chief executive officer of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) in Abuja from 1994 to 2006.{{sfn | Tell Communications Limited | 2008 | p=50}}<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" /><ref>{{cite web | last1=Hassan | first1=Adole | last2=Scott | first2=Christina | title=Nigeria revokes sickle cell drug licence | website=ProQuest | date=March 16, 2009 | url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/4d7a344bf305c23e92c9641e1a12c7dc/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=5572318| access-date=May 24, 2024}}</ref> During his tenure, he oversaw the research and development of Niprisan, a standardised phytomedicine derived from four plants namely Piper guineenses seeds, ''Pterocarpus osun'' stem, ''Eugenia caryophyllum'' fruit and Sorghum bicolor leaves,<ref name="r735">{{cite journal | last1=Oniyangi | first1=Oluseyi | last2=Cohall | first2=Damian H | title=Phytomedicines (medicines derived from plants) for sickle cell disease | journal=Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | publisher=Wiley | date=2018-02-15 | volume=2018 | issue=2 | article-number=CD004448 | issn=1465-1858 | doi=10.1002/14651858.cd004448.pub6 | pmid=29446825 | pmc=6491089 }}</ref> used for sickle cell disorder management.<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" /> Niprisan underwent clinical trials and was found to be safe and effective in reducing the frequency and severity of sickle cell crises.<ref name="The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) 2023 s821" /> It received approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in 1998 and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001.<ref name="The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) 2023 s821" /> Wambebe has five United States patents for Niprisan.<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" />
Wambebe also led the research and development of the first Nigerian HIV-1 candidate vaccine, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Institute of Human Virology.<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" /> He developed a plant extract (CONAVIL) for HIV/AIDS management and conducted initial clinical trials. He developed the Draft Nigerian National HIV Vaccine Plan with support from UNAIDS in 2000.<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" />
Wambebe worked as a consultant in traditional medicine for the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, African Union, Economic Commission for Africa and African Development Bank.<ref name="The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) 2023 s821" /><ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" /> He was the chair of product research and development for Africa and the president of International Biomedical Research for Africa. He held a professorship in pharmacology at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa and an honorary professorship of pharmacology at Makerere University in Uganda. He published articles in international journals and contributed chapters to books, focusing his research on the development of phytomedicines from African indigenous medical knowledge using African food plants. He authored several books, including ''African Indigenous Medical Knowledge and Human Health''.<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" />
== Awards and honours == Wambebe received The World Academy of Sciences Award in Medical Sciences in 2000 for his work on Niprisan.<ref name="The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) 2023 s821" /> The Federal Government of Nigeria awarded him the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" /> He was an elected fellow of The World Academy of Sciences, African Academy of Sciences, and Nigerian Academy of Science.<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" />
== Personal life and death == Wambebe was married to Victoria Wambebe.<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" /> He was a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He died on 9 November 2022 in Quincy, Massachusetts, United States, at the age of 76.<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" /> He was survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and other relatives and friends. His burial took place on 16 November 2022 in Emi Tsado, Kogi State, Nigeria.<ref name="Nigeria 2022 k665" />
== Selected publications == {{refbegin|indent=}} * {{cite journal | last=C | first=Wambebe | title=Influence of some agents that affect 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism and receptors on nitrazepam-induced sleep in mice | journal=British Journal of Pharmacology | date=January 1985 | publisher=Br J Pharmacol | volume=84 | issue=1 | pages=185–191 | issn=0007-1188 | pmid=3156646 | pmc=1987228 |ref=none|author-mask=3}} * {{cite journal | last=WAMBEBE | first=C | title=Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised cross-over clinical trial of NIPRISAN? in patients with Sickle Cell Disorder | journal=Phytomedicine | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=8 | issue=4 | year=2001 | issn=0944-7113 | doi=10.1078/0944-7113-00040 | pages=252–261| pmid=11515714 |ref=none|author-mask=3}} * {{cite journal | last1=Wambebe | first1=Charles | last2=Kasilo | first2=Ossy Muganga Julius | last3=Nikiema | first3=Jean-Baptiste | last4=Nabyonga-Orem | first4=Juliet | title=Towards universal health coverage: advancing the development and use of traditional medicines in Africa | journal=BMJ Global Health | publisher=BMJ | volume=4 | issue=Suppl 9 | year=2019 | issn=2059-7908 | doi=10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001517 | article-number=e001517| pmid=31673437 |ref=none|author-mask=3| pmc=6797325 }} * {{cite journal | last1=Wambebe | first1=Charles | last2=Sokomba | first2=Elijah | title=Some behavioural and EEG effects of ascorbic acid in rats | journal=Psychopharmacology | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=89 | issue=2 | year=1986 | issn=0033-3158 | doi=10.1007/bf00310622 | pages=167–170| pmid=3088632 |ref=none|author-mask=3}} * {{cite journal | last1=Wambebe | first1=Charles | last2=Bodhankar | first2=Subhash | last3=Ogbeide | first3=Osa N. | last4=Okor | first4=Dorcas I. | title=Pharmacological effects of Synclisia scabrida alkaloid B on some isolated muscle preparations | journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=6 | issue=3 | year=1982 | issn=0378-8741 | doi=10.1016/0378-8741(82)90048-4 | pages=255–261| pmid=7154694 |ref=none|author-mask=3}} * {{cite journal | last1=Wambebe | first1=C. | last2=Agho | first2=M. O. | last3=Amos | first3=S. | last4=Gamaniel | first4=K. S. | last5=Abdullahi | first5=A. L. | title=Antidiarrhoeal activity of the aqueous extract of'' Terminalia avicennoides'' roots | journal=Phytotherapy Research | publisher=Wiley | volume=15 | issue=5 | date=6 July 2001 | issn=0951-418X | doi=10.1002/ptr.860 | pages=431–434| pmid=11507737 |ref=none|author-mask=3}} * {{cite journal | last1=Wambebe | first1=Charles | last2=Sokomba | first2=Elijah | last3=Amabeoku | first3=George J. | title=Some behavioural effects of quinine in mice | journal=Journal of Psychopharmacology | publisher=SAGE Publications | volume=3 | issue=3 | year=1989 | issn=0269-8811 | doi=10.1177/026988118900300306 | pages=156–168| pmid=22282900 |ref=none|author-mask=3}} * {{cite journal | last1=Wambebe | first1=C.O. | last2=Okogun | first2=J.I. | last3=Enwerem | first3=N.M. | last4=Okorie | first4=D.A. | last5=Akah | first5=P.A. | title=Anthelmintic activity of the stem bark extracts of Berlina grandiflora and one of its active principles, Betulinic acid | journal=Phytomedicine | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=8 | issue=2 | year=2001 | issn=0944-7113 | doi=10.1078/0944-7113-00023 | pages=112–114| pmid=11315752 |ref=none|author-mask=3}} * {{cite journal | last=WAMBEBE | first=Charles | title=Influence of ( – )-Sulpiride and YM-09151-2 on Stereotyped Behavior in Chicks and Catalepsy in Rats | journal=Japanese Journal of Pharmacology | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=43 | issue=2 | year=1987 | issn=0021-5198 | doi=10.1016/s0021-5198(19)43530-0 | pages=121–128|ref=none|author-mask=3| doi-access=free | pmid=2883335 }} * {{cite journal | last1=Wambebe | first1=Charles | last2=Kirigia | first2=Joses M | title=Status of national health research systems in ten countries of the WHO African Region | journal=BMC Health Services Research | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=6 | issue=1 | year=2006 | page=135 | issn=1472-6963 | doi=10.1186/1472-6963-6-135 | doi-access=free| pmid=17052326 |ref=none|author-mask=3| pmc=1622748 }} {{refend}}
== References == === Citations === {{Reflist}}
=== Sources === * {{cite book | title=Tell | publisher=Tell Communications Limited | issue=nos. 40–47 | year=2008 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bEwuAQAAIAAJ | ref={{sfnref | Tell Communications Limited | 2008}} | access-date=25 December 2023}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wambebe, Charles}} Category:1946 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Nigerian pharmacologists Category:Nigerian medical researchers Category:Nigerian academics Category:Nigerian inventors Category:Ahmadu Bello University alumni Category:Fellows of the Royal Society Category:Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Science Category:Fellows of the African Academy of Sciences Category:People from Kogi State Category:Commanders of the Order of the Niger Category:Members of the Order of the Federal Republic Category:Fellows of The World Academy of Sciences