Union inaugurates Abakaliki executives, seeks stronger regulation of traditional medicine and government partnership to curb fake practitioners

The National Union of Medical Herbal Practitioners, Ebonyi State Chapter, has strengthened its grassroots structure with the inauguration of the executive committee for its Abakaliki Local Government Area chapter, while declaring support for the re-election bid of Governor Francis Nwifuru in 2027.

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The inauguration, held in Abakaliki on Sunday, also provided a platform for the union to renew its call for greater regulation of traditional medicine and stronger collaboration with the Ebonyi State Government to eliminate fake practitioners from the profession.

Speaking at the event, the State Chairman of the union, Chief Ndubuisi Nwogha, said the inauguration formed part of an ongoing exercise to establish functional leadership across the state’s local government areas.

He noted that Abakaliki became the third council area to inaugurate its executive committee after Ezza North and Ezza South, describing the exercise as an important step towards strengthening the union’s operations across Ebonyi.

Nwogha urged the newly inaugurated officials to uphold professionalism and ethical standards, stressing that genuine herbal practitioners must distance themselves from criminal activities capable of damaging the profession’s reputation.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that herbal practitioners do the right thing. They must not be involved in ritual practices, criminal activities or anything capable of tarnishing the image of our profession. We are here to save lives and not to destroy them,” he said.

Beyond internal reforms, the union appealed to the Ebonyi State Government to establish a Medical Herbal Board that would regulate traditional medicine, promote best practices and strengthen oversight of practitioners operating within the state.

Also addressing the gathering, the union’s State Secretary, Dr Victor Onuoha, called for closer cooperation between the government and the association to tackle the growing challenge posed by unqualified operators.

“We want the government to partner us in sanitising the profession,” Onuoha said.

The union also used the occasion to endorse Governor Nwifuru’s expected re-election bid in 2027, saying it supports the continuation of his administration’s policies and programmes in Ebonyi State.

The endorsement comes as political groups, professional associations and civil society organisations have increasingly begun positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, despite formal election activities still being some distance away. Across several states, public declarations of support have become a common feature of engagements involving governors and interest groups.

Traditional medicine also continues to play a significant role in Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly in rural communities where many residents rely on herbal remedies alongside conventional medical services.

Industry stakeholders have repeatedly called for stronger regulation to improve standards, discourage fraudulent practices and promote wider acceptance of qualified practitioners.

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For the Ebonyi chapter of the union, the inauguration of the Abakaliki executive represents both an organisational milestone and an opportunity to reinforce professional standards while advocating reforms that members believe will strengthen public confidence in traditional medicine.