The Director General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Prof. Martins Omeje, has emphasized that traditional medicine is essential for Nigeria to achieve universal health coverage.
Speaking at the Herbal Medicine Conference, tagged *”Traditional and Herbal Medicine: Challenges and Prospects for Translational Research,”* organized by Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Omeje stressed the need for scientists and researchers to continue developing traditional medicine without relying on external validation. He noted that the era of boundaries has ended, and collaboration is now crucial.
Omeje criticized Nigeria’s primary healthcare services, calling them mere architectural structures, and urged the government to engage more with traditional medicine for a robust healthcare delivery system. He argued that it is inappropriate to use foreign parameters to regulate traditional medicine, stating that the challenge lies not with regulations but with the traditional medicine system itself.
On the possibility of cooperation between traditional and orthodox medicine, Prof. Omeje stated that the agency advocates for coexistence rather than integration between the two. He also noted that the key difference between Nigeria and some Asian countries is documentation, which has given those countries an edge over others.
According to him, more than 93% of Nigerians depend on traditional medicine for survival.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Prof. Augustine Onyeaghala, highlighted the critical role of traditional and herbal medicine in healthcare systems across Africa. He stressed that natural therapies continue to play a vital role in addressing public health challenges.
“The demand for solutions to public health issues is increasing, and it is essential to bridge traditional healing practices with evidence-based medical science,” Onyeaghala said.
He added, “The theme of this conference reflects our shared commitment to advancing the integration of traditional medicine with modern science. It also underscores the need for rigorous research, regulation, and the translation of herbal medicines and indigenous knowledge into therapeutic solutions that meet global health challenges.”
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, Prof. Chinedum Babalola, pointed out that Nigeria’s healthcare system faces challenges related to access to quality-assured medicines. She emphasized the importance of improving access to effective and high-quality herbal medicines.
Prof. Babalola expressed confidence that the conference would produce a policy document to accelerate the incorporation of herbal remedies into Nigeria’s healthcare system.
