Get Guardian on GoogleAcross Nigeria and much of the continent, communities once relied on local plants, leaves, roots and herbs for everyday care long before commercial supplements appeared.
Knowledge passed through families and traditional practitioners formed part of daily life and cultural identity.
Modern healthcare has since transformed outcomes, yet interest in these botanical practices is resurfacing as more people seek accessible ways to support wellbeing.
Mohammed Adamu Daggo, chief executive of Bioharb Global, said the shift reflects a deeper continuity. “Our ancestors already understood the value of nature. Plants, leaves, roots and herbs were part of everyday life, used in traditional remedies and passed down through families.” He noted that the relationship was more than practice; it shaped identity and heritage.
Daggo emphasised that renewed attention need not reject scientific progress. “While modern medicine has transformed healthcare in remarkable ways, our botanical heritage still deserves attention. Not because everything our ancestors practised was scientifically proven, but because their knowledge offers a valuable starting point.” He added that observation and experience once guided generations, and today’s tools allow closer examination of the same plants.
The executive described the effort as an invitation rather than a retreat. “Back to the Roots is about bringing the best of what we have learned from the past into conversations about the future. We envision an Africa where botanical heritage is not forgotten and where traditional knowledge inspires responsible scientific exploration.” He stressed that modern medicine remains essential for diagnosis and treatment, and that reconnection should complement rather than replace professional care.
Observers note that Africa’s plant diversity has long informed local approaches to health. Daggo’s comments align with a broader conversation in which companies and researchers examine how generational knowledge can inform contemporary formulations while meeting safety standards.
The approach, he suggested, centres on informed choices rather than nostalgia alone. By learning about botanical heritage and sharing reliable information, communities can preserve elements of that knowledge for later generations
