The man behind the Alabukun Powder

Jacob Sogboyega Odulate who was born in 1884 in Ikorodu Lagos created what later became the legendary Alabukun drug in 1918. According to report, Odulate at age 14 trekked from Lagos to Abeokuta for three months where he later established his pharmaceutical invention.

The production of the Alabukun drug

In 1918 when Nigeria was still under serious colonial rule, Odulate with the help of his wife and children go to work at his laboratory and workshop at Sapon in Abeokuta. Most of its ingredients came from Liverpool and includes acetylsalicylic acid and caffeine as its active ingredients. “A packet contains 760 mg of acetylsalicylic acid and 60 mg of caffeine making a total of 820 mg.”

The drug became popular among those who preferred local medication to the European one because the powdery form of the Alabukun drug resembled traditional method of drug making which involved grinding the bark of trees into a powdery form. For others, Alabukun was a bridge between the traditional medication and the drugs introduced by the colonialist and was therefore easy to embrace by consumers.

Cure

Alabukun has been fondly referred to as “gbogbonise” especially by Yoruba-speaking Nigerians which literally translates to “a drug that cures all ailment.” This is because it is believed that it has the power to treat different illness especially pain, cold, headache and feverishness.

Why Alabkun is not advertise

Although very popular, Alabukun has found a way into the heart of Nigerians without being advertise. According to report, the drug was spread by word of mouth while drug shops were encouraged to recommend it as a treatment for cold and headache. The feedback was that it worked very fast and being cheap, it soon gained steady rise and popularity. From there, it spread quickly from the south west to other part of Nigeria and then to Benin Republic.


https://www.naij.com/1095694-how-alabukun-popular-nigeria.html

Ftc on alabukun's thread.

AFUNja has been doing great since time immemorial.

Thanks for this, op.

sexybbstar:
Ftc on alabukun's thread.
AFUNja has been doing great since time immemorial.

Wrong spelling.