The Federal Government has called on traditional medicine practitioners to standardise their products and subject them to modern scientific scrutiny, stressing that this is the only way to dispel doubts about their safety and efficacy.
Speaking in Abuja during the 2025 African Traditional Medicine Day, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adekunle Salako, said investment in research and clinical studies is necessary to validate the quality of traditional remedies and integrate them into Nigeria’s health system.
“Evidence is the bridge between belief and policy. It is what will allow traditional medicines to move from the periphery to the mainstream of healthcare delivery, not just in Nigeria, but also across the continent,” Salako said.
He explained that many Nigerians, especially those in rural and underserved areas, still rely on herbal remedies, spiritual healing, and indigenous knowledge systems as their primary healthcare option. Strengthening the evidence base, he noted, would ensure acceptability, documentation, and standardisation of these practices.
Salako also pointed to lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the importance of resilient and diversified health systems and renewed global interest in natural remedies.
He urged African nations to seize the moment to push traditional medicine onto the global stage, with “evidence as its passport.”
According to him, the sector has huge potential to contribute to President Tinubu’s agenda of unlocking the healthcare value chain — by boosting local manufacturing, creating jobs, growing the economy, and improving access to care.
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