The Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) has begun creating a comprehensive national database of traditional medicine practitioners. This initiative aims to standardize and strengthen the sector, which is widely used in the country. According to the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Martins Emeje, about 80% of Nigerians, approximately 160 million people, rely on traditional medicine, particularly in rural areas where access to conventional healthcare is limited.
Emeje, who was recently appointed Co-Chair of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, stated that the database will bring sanity to the ecosystem, enhance credibility, and increase visibility for Nigeria’s natural medicine globally. He noted that traditional medicine is the most patronized form of healthcare in the country and worldwide, yet it remains poorly funded and lacks proper organization.
To address this, the NNMDA has started a digital database of traditional medical practitioners, their practices, and products. The agency will verify the records and issue identification numbers to practitioners, allowing for better regulation and standardization. A pilot project has been launched in Oyo State, and the goal is to capture practitioners in all 774 Local Government Areas of the country.
Emeje emphasized that documentation is a crucial element of standardization and that the initiative aligns with the WHO’s strategy to support member states in developing comprehensive databases of traditional medicine practitioners. He also highlighted the need for increased research funding in traditional medicine, which currently accounts for less than 1% of global research funding despite its high usage worldwide.
The NNMDA is also working to advance the sector through education and standard-setting, with the NNMDA School of Traditional Medicine seeking accreditation and quality assurance for training programs. Emeje stressed that the goal is to structure and preserve indigenous knowledge, not replace it, and that countries like China and India have successfully integrated traditional medicine into their healthcare systems through structured education, research, and policy support.
Nigeria’s alignment with the WHO’s strategic objectives for traditional medicine is expected to attract improved research funding, generate scientific evidence, and validate the safety and efficacy of natural medicines. Emeje’s position at the WHO will enable Nigeria and Africa to contribute meaningfully to global policy discussions, research collaborations, and capacity development in traditional medicine.
