Abeokuta, Ogun State – Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to embrace traditional medicine, describing it as humanity’s oldest and most enduring health care system.
Soyinka made the call in Abeokuta on Wednesday during a programme organised by the Ogun State Government and traditionalists to mark the 2025 Isese Festival, celebrated annually on August 20.
He described Isese Day as an important occasion for Nigerians to reconnect with their cultural heritage and rediscover indigenous knowledge systems.
“Our Herbs, Our Healing”
The playwright and social critic stressed that traditional medicine should not be dismissed as outdated, noting that even practitioners of orthodox medicine were now adopting natural remedies as part of global health care trends.
“One thing I must stress here is our herbs and roots, our traditional medicine, which the western world now calls pharmacology,” Soyinka said.
He lamented that many Nigerians continued to disregard herbal remedies, relying solely on hospitals, even though local plants and roots remained highly potent.
“Many people are retracing their steps. Producers of traditional medicine should not be afraid. It is the way forward and must be supported,” he added.
Preserving Heritage
Beyond health, Soyinka urged Nigerians to jealously guard and propagate their cultural inheritance, insisting that tradition and indigenous knowledge must be preserved across generations.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, in his goodwill message, congratulated traditionalists and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to cultural preservation. Represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sesan Fagbayi, the governor said Isese Day had come to stay in Ogun State, adding that the government would continue to promote religious tolerance.
The Chairman of the Alternate Medicine Board, Nurudeen Olaleye, commended Abiodun for declaring August 20 a public holiday for Isese Day, describing it as a fulfillment of his campaign promise. He also urged the state government to invest further in developing alternate medicine, which he called “a promising global goldmine waiting to be fully tapped.”
The 2025 Isese Festival brought together traditional rulers, cultural custodians, and devotees who reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding Yoruba heritage and promoting indigenous healing practices.
