By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has urged the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) to integrate locally sourced herbs into their clinical practice for the treatment of patients.
The monarch made this appeal on Friday during the commissioning of the Asiwaju Adebowale Omotosho Pharmacy House, a four-storey edifice located along the Adeoyo State Hospital axis in Ibadan.
While congratulating the Oyo State branch of the association on the milestone, the traditional ruler noted that the Yoruba race is historically renowned for possessing potent herbs capable of curing various ailments.
Oba Ladoja, who promised the society maximum support from the palace, shared a personal anecdote involving a close relative based in the United Kingdom, whose health condition was resolved using herbs sourced from the Dugbe area of Ibadan after several medical interventions abroad proved unsuccessful.
He, however, stressed the need for a formal collaboration between pharmacists and traditional herb practitioners to maximize the efficacy of indigenous medicinal plants for the benefit of residents of Ibadan and Nigerians at large.
“There is a need to bridge the gap between pharmacy and our local knowledge to enhance healthcare delivery,” the monarch stated.
In his remarks, the President of the association, Col. Victor Segun Ajanaku (retd), described the completion of the complex as a landmark achievement in the history of the pharmacy profession in Oyo State and a significant contribution to healthcare advancement.
Other stakeholders at the event used the occasion to call on the Federal Government to provide an enabling environment and formulate policies that would allow the local pharmaceutical industry to thrive and compete favourably on the global stage.
