.. Leaders Push for Safety, Standards, and Global Recognition
By CHIOMA Iwueke
The maiden edition of the Imo African Traditional Medicine Day was celebrated in Owerri on Sept. 2, 2025, with calls for practitioners to embrace safety, standardization, and global best practices to strengthen trust and position African remedies on the world stage.
The event, organized by the Association of Commonwealth Natural and Herbal Medicine Practitioners in Nigeria (ACNHMPN), Imo State chapter, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Science Council, also marked the 23rd continental African Traditional Medicine Day. It drew stakeholders from across the country, including ACNHMPN National President, Dr. Cyprain C. Uba, State Chairman, Chief Dr. Nnaoma Oha, regional leaders, and representatives of the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) in Imo State.
This years theme, Strengthen the evidence base for traditional medicine, aligns with the World Health Organizations (WHO) global strategy for traditional healthcare as discussions centered on consumer trust, safety, and the economic potential of African remedies.
In his keynote address, Dr. Uba described traditional medicine as both a cultural gift and a vital part of Africas healthcare system. He stressed the need for discipline and safety, urging practitioners to adopt modern hygiene practices, use safe preservatives such as honey and vinegar, and properly label their products.
According to him, With the wealth of knowledge and natural resources we have, Nigeria can package its medicines to meet local needs and gain international recognition, he said. But this can only happen when we put safety first, discipline ourselves, and act responsibly.
Speaking on the theme Implications of Patronage and Costs in Traditional Medicine, The State chairman, Dr. Oha noted that nearly 80% of Africans rely on traditional remedies for primary healthcare, yet the practice faces stigma from modern medicine. He emphasized that effective regulation was key to consumer safety and credibility, citing the NAFDAC Act of 2004 which mandates oversight of herbal products.
He revealed that Imo State loses about ₦3.5 billion annually from its underdeveloped traditional medicine sector and urged Governor Hope Uzodinma to establish a Board of Traditional Medicine to regulate the practice in order to boost jobs, and increase the states Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Representatives of the Consumer Protection Council pledged collaboration with practitioners but warned against unsafe practices that endanger lives. The celebration also featured lectures on hygiene, food safety in herbal preparation, and the role of evidence-based research in building acceptance for African medicine.
Participants hailed the event as historic. Dr. Ozioma Mercy, one of the attendees, described it as highly educative, saying she learned the importance of sterilization in herbal production. The event closed with a pledge to promote African traditional medicine in ways that protect life, respect rights, and leave no one behind.
