The Federal University of Lafia has called for greater collaboration between traditional healers and modern health practitioners to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
At its second webinar series organised by the Centre for Cultural Studies on Wednesday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, scholars and experts emphasised the need to scientifically validate indigenous medicinal practices for safety and standardisation.
The Director of the Centre, Professor Zara Kwaghe, said the meeting, themed “Revisiting Our Past: Bridging Indigenous Wisdom and Modern Medicine for a Healthier Future”, was aimed at recognising the value of indigenous knowledge in healthcare.
“The goal is to imagine a healthcare future that is inclusive, sustainable, culturally grounded, and scientifically sound,” she said.
In her presentation titled “Revisiting Bioactive Plants in Traditional Healing: A Microbiological Appraisal”, the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Aleruchi Chuku, stressed the need to document and test traditional remedies. She argued that it was important “to scientifically prove what traditionalists have been doing and document it, so that drugs can be measured in dosage for both children and adults.”
Professor Chuku advocated for the creation of a national herbal database, standard dosage frameworks, and enhanced hygiene standards in herbal preparation. She also urged governments at all levels to invest in clinical trials of key medicinal plants to improve public health.
Also speaking at the webinar, the Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor Ali Shugaba, noted that traditional therapies could complement modern healthcare but required oversight to ensure safety.
“We can use traditional therapies for preventive care, mental health, and some chronic diseases,” he said, calling on the government to integrate traditional medicine into the national health system.
Meanwhile, Professor Victor Dugga, Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, underscored the urgency of documenting and digitising indigenous African medical knowledge, lamenting that traditional practices were at risk of being lost due to poor preservation.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Shehu Abdul-Rahman, the Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Professor Muhammad Kida, highlighted the importance of strong collaboration among researchers, institutions, and practitioners in the study of indigenous medicine.
“This platform allows us to generate research outcomes beneficial to both the community and academia,” he said.
Traditional healer, Isa Anbana, who participated in the meeting, spoke on the efficacy of indigenous remedies for ailments such as skin diseases. He said, “Traditional healers refer patients to hospitals when necessary and transfer knowledge to others who are obedient and abide by the terms and conditions.”
The university’s Pioneer Vice Chancellor, Professor Ekanem Braide, praised the initiative and suggested that traditional medicine practitioners be integrated into the university’s faculties and College of Medicine to share their indigenous knowledge.
The webinar concluded with a consensus on the need to bridge traditional and modern medical knowledge to build a healthier Nigerian society.
