By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) has launched a nationwide effort to create a digital database of traditional medicine practitioners, aiming to standardise the sector and enhance its credibility.
Director-General Prof. Martins Emeje told NAN in Abuja on Tuesday that the initiative seeks to index practitioners, their practices, and the products they offer. “About 80 per cent of Nigerians rely on traditional medicine, yet the sector remains disorganised and poorly funded. This database will bring order and global visibility,” he said.
The project began eight months ago and includes verification of practitioners’ locations and services, followed by issuance of identification numbers based on verified records and geographic coordinates. A pilot project in Iseyin Local Government Area, Oyo State, is now set to be scaled nationwide across all 774 LGAs.
Emeje noted the initiative aligns with the World Health Organisation’s strategy to support member states in building comprehensive traditional medicine databases. He added that Nigeria is increasingly shaping global policy through his recent appointment as Co-Chair of WHO’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine.
The NNMDA also plans to integrate education, research, and regulation through its School of Traditional Medicine to preserve and validate indigenous knowledge while promoting evidence-based practice.
