NBTE moves to promote traditional medicine

The National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, has taken steps to promote traditional medicine in the country by inaugurating a two Sector Skill Councils, SSCs, on traditional herbal medicine and homeland security.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Thursday, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, said the move was to promote indigenous skills on traditional medicine and improve security in the country.

Bugaje expressed belief that this will boost the development of local pharmaceutical raw materials and products, and equip local security groups with requisite skills to confront security challenges.

While describing the council as an “independent employer-led organisations” that build skills systems, he said it would be driven by employer demand, adding that the SSC on traditional medicine would effectively monitor and ensure that training in herbal medicine was delivered according to laid down rules.

According to him, the council would supervise all training to ensure that the guidelines were followed appropriately, stressing that the initiative would increase opportunities to boost skills and productivity of those working in herbal medicine.

He disclosed that the NBTE has developed the National Occupational Standards, NOS, on herbal medicine practice, adding that the NOS was developed after a series of workshops with relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, and herbal medicine practitioners across the six geo-political zones.

Bugaje urged state governors in the country to partner with the Council and work out ways to train their respective local vigilantes for optimal service as this would equip local security outfits with the requisite skills and equipment to confront local security challenges.

In his remarks, Prof. Hussaini Ibrahim, Director-General, RMRDC, described the initiative as a “crucial step” towards industrialisation and self-reliance.

‘’It stands as a symbol of our dedication to harnessing our indigenous skills for sustainable economic development’.

‘RMRDC has over the years made tremendous efforts in the development of pharmaceutical raw materials and products,” he said.