The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has called for the integration of traditional medicine into Nigeria’s modern healthcare system to strengthen healthcare delivery and preserve indigenous medical knowledge.
The monarch made the appeal while receiving executive members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Oyo State branch, at the Olubadan Palace in Ibadan.
Speaking during the visit, Oba Ladoja emphasised the importance of traditional medicine, describing it as effective, affordable, and easily accessible to many Nigerians, particularly at the grassroots level.
“I believe in the efficacy of traditional medicine, its accessibility and affordability. This is why I am advocating the integration of traditional medicine with modern medicine to improve healthcare delivery before the knowledge of traditional medical practitioners fades away,” the monarch said.
He stressed that blending indigenous healing practices with orthodox healthcare could help expand medical access and preserve valuable traditional knowledge passed down through generations.
Earlier, Chairman of the Oyo State branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Segun Ajanaku, said the delegation visited the palace to congratulate the monarch on his ascension to the throne and commend his achievements within a short period on the stool.
Ajanaku also disclosed that pharmacists in the state had completed a multi-storey building in Ibadan, which he described as the first of its kind in Nigeria.
“We have completed a pharmacists’ building in Ibadan, the first of its kind in the country, and we respectfully invite Your Imperial Majesty to its inauguration on May 21, 2026,” he said.
He further sought the monarch’s approval for the association to hold its annual medical outreach programme at the palace on September 25, 2026.
The event was attended by traditional rulers and title holders, including Oba Kolawole Adegbola, Oba Mobolaji Adewoyin, and Muibi Ademola, among others.
