During a media event aimed at inducting journalists as 'Journalists for Traditional Medicines,' the Director-General, Prof. Martins Emeje, made this announcement.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the virtual event was titled “The Media as Natural Medicine Ambassadors.”
Emeje stated that 80 percent of traditional medicines are effective in addressing health issues with minimal side effects.
He pointed out that while allopathic medicine is taught in Nigerian schools, traditional medicine deserves equal recognition and respect.
The Director-General refuted claims that traditional medicines lack proper dosage, noting that advancements such as nanotechnology are being integrated into their formulations.
“We are in an era where we are applying nanotechnology to traditional medicine and we shall be reinforcing our research and development models.
“The same way you enrol in school to learn pharmacy, we can as well learn traditional medicines in school, and it does not necessarily need to be taught by a professor with degrees,” he said.
Emeje stressed the importance of Nigerians taking pride in their heritage, highlighting that traditional medicines have been effective historically, which underscores the need for their standardization.
He also mentioned that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has recently recognized NNMDA as the official body for awarding National Skills Qualifications in Traditional Medicine within the country.
Furthermore, Emeje noted that the NBTE is actively training its personnel in quality assessment and developing a curriculum to establish qualifications for traditional medicine practitioners in Nigeria.
“We will be having traditional medicine database development, training of traditional medicine practitioners, training and documentation of Nigeria’s biodiversity and tackling antimicrobial resistance.
“We are going to work with religious medicine practitioners and native medicine practitioners at all levels in order to enhance their practice.
“There must be standardisation of natural medicine across the board, and we have to develop standards with stakeholders, and we are not going to copy any country’s style,’’ he said.
The Director-General stated that it was essential to rescue the nation from the detrimental effects of excessive imports that were undermining its economy and to safeguard Nigerian traditional medicine.
Emeje further highlighted the importance of prioritizing research, science, technology, and innovation, which are crucial for development in various countries.
He urged the media to oversee and assess the agency's activities to ensure it stays aligned with its mission of enhancing the significance of traditional medicine.