The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has advocated the integration of traditional medicine into Nigeria’s orthodox healthcare system, saying indigenous medical practice remains accessible and affordable to millions of Nigerians.
The monarch made the call on Wednesday while receiving the executive members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Oyo State branch, at the Olubadan Palace in Ibadan.
According to a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Gbenga Ayoade, the monarch said traditional medicine should not be discarded, stressing that it still plays a critical role in healthcare delivery across communities.
“I believe in the efficacy of traditional medicine, its accessibility, and its affordability. So, let me use this period to advocate for the integration of traditional medicine with modern medicine for the enhancement of virile healthcare delivery before the exit of the traditional medical practitioners,” Ladoja said.
The former Oyo State governor turned monarch has recently intensified interventions on public welfare issues, including healthcare and community security initiatives in Ibadanland.
The visit by the pharmacists’ body also doubled as a congratulatory visit following Ladoja’s ascension to the throne as the 44th Olubadan in September 2025.
Chairman of the PSN in Oyo State, Segun Ajanaku, told the monarch that the association came to appreciate him for what he described as achievements recorded within a short period of his reign.
Ajanaku disclosed that the society had completed a pharmacists’ story building in Ibadan, which he described as the first of its kind in Nigeria.
“We respectfully invite Your Imperial Majesty to the inauguration of the building on May 21, 2026,” he said.
He also sought the monarch’s approval for the association’s annual medical outreach programme scheduled to hold at the palace on September 25, 2026.
Among dignitaries present during the visit were Oba Kolawole Adegbola, Oba Mobolaji Adewoyin and Muibi Ademola.
Ladoja currently chairs the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs under the rotational leadership arrangement among major traditional rulers in the state.
