Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to revive and embrace traditional medicine, describing it as an enduring and highly effective system of health care rooted in the nation’s cultural heritage.
Speaking in Abeokuta on Wednesday during an event commemorating the 2025 Isese Festival, organised by the Ogun State Government in collaboration with traditional worshippers, Soyinka expressed strong support for the annual celebration, held every August 20.
According to the renowned playwright, the Isese Festival presents a meaningful opportunity for Nigerians to reconnect with ancestral practices and rediscover indigenous healing methods as reliable alternatives for health care delivery.
He urged citizens to preserve and promote traditional culture across generations, noting that even practitioners of conventional medicine trained in the West are increasingly turning to natural remedies for treatment.
“Let us not forget our herbs, roots, and natural cures,” Soyinka said. “What the Western world now refers to as pharmacology has long existed in our traditional systems.”
He criticized the prevailing attitude among many Nigerians who dismiss local medicine in favor of modern hospitals, despite the proven efficacy of indigenous remedies. Soyinka added that the global shift toward natural healing methods signals the relevance and resilience of traditional medicine.
“There’s no shame in producing or using traditional medicine,” he emphasized. “It is the future, and we must support its growth.”
He further encouraged Nigerians to protect and cherish their rich cultural inheritance, warning against neglecting traditional knowledge systems.
In his address, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sesan Fagbayi, congratulated traditionalists on the celebration and reaffirmed the government’s support for preserving indigenous culture and promoting religious harmony.
The governor reiterated that Isese Day is now a recognized holiday in Ogun State, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to honoring cultural traditions.
Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board, Nurudeen Olaleye, praised the governor for fulfilling his campaign promise by officially declaring August 20 as a public holiday for Isese Day.
Olaleye also urged the state government to do more in supporting the development of alternative medicine, describing it as a largely untapped global opportunity with significant potential for health care and economic growth.