The National Universities Commission, NUC has been urged to include Complementary and Alternative Medicine, CAM courses in medical degree curricula as a way to broaden the scope of knowledge for medical students.
Professor Adejuwon Adeneye of Pharmacology, Therapeutics, and Toxicology in the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Lagos State University College of Medicine made the call while the historic 100th Inaugural Lecture with the title: “Green Medicine: Nature’s Gateway to Sustainable Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria.
He said Nigeria, like many developing nations, sees up to 85% of its population relying on CAM, often due to its accessibility, affordability, and alignment with local cultural beliefs. Professor Adeneye stressed that incorporating these practices into formal medical education could close healthcare gaps across the country.
The Professor of Pharmacology, Therapeutics, and Toxicology emphasized that with the NUC currently evaluating a new curricular system for Nigerian universities, it is a critical moment to adopt a more inclusive approach. ”By incorporating CAM, students in traditional medical programs like MBBS, BDS, and BNSc could gain valuable insights into complementary healthcare approaches”, he stated.
He also proposed establishing degree programmes in Integrative Medicine, inspired by educational models in countries like Germany, India, and Brazil, where CAM has long been woven into the healthcare framework. Through this integration, Professor Adeneye noted that Nigerian institutions could facilitate advanced research into ethnomedical practices, leveraging Nigeria’s rich biodiversity for health benefits.
The Professor, said LASU, positioned at Nigeria’s commercial hub, is considered an ideal institution to lead CAM research efforts in the country and hence set up a dedicated CAM Research Centre, potentially becoming the first of its kind in Nigeria.
Addressing the need for sustainable resources, Professor Adeneye highlights the urgency of protecting Nigeria’s medicinal plants and calls for both conservation laws and large-scale cultivation efforts. To this end, CAM research programmes would play a critical role in identifying and preserving valuable medicinal resources, bolstering local economies, and supporting health initiatives.
According to him, the integration of CAM is also seen as crucial to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all by 2030.
