The Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) has commenced the creation of a national database of traditional medicine practitioners to bring order, credibility, and visibility to the sector.
Director-General Prof. Martins Emeje disclosed this in Abuja on Monday, noting that about 80% of Nigerians, over 160 million people, depend on traditional medicine, especially in rural areas with limited access to conventional healthcare.
Emeje, recently appointed Co-Chair of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, explained that the initiative aims to standardise practices by documenting practitioners, verifying their clinics, and issuing identification numbers.
“Eight months ago, we started the digital database of traditional medical practitioners, their practices and their products. After registering and documenting practitioners, we will verify their place of practice, the services they render, and the products they use,” he said.
The pilot project began in Iseyin LGA, Oyo State, and will be expanded nationwide to cover all 774 LGAs. The agency plans to present the model to the National Assembly for funding support.
Emeje lamented that global research funding for traditional medicine remains below 1%, despite its widespread use. He stressed the need for education, accreditation, and quality assurance, adding that the NNMDA School of Traditional Medicine is working toward formal training programmes.
He emphasised that the goal is not to replace indigenous knowledge but to preserve and strengthen it through structured education, research, and regulation. Countries like China and India, he noted, have successfully integrated traditional medicine into their healthcare systems.
Nigeria, he said, is aligning with WHO’s renewed focus on traditional medicine, which prioritises evidence-based practice, strong regulation, integration into healthcare systems, and international collaboration. His role at WHO, he added, will help Nigeria and Africa contribute meaningfully to global policy and research.
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