Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has announced the creation of a Center for Traditional Medicine aimed at preserving and institutionalizing Igbo Indigenous healing practices, with plans to introduce academic degree programs in the field.
The disclosure was made during the Igu Aro UNIZIK 2025 festival by Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Bonachristus Umeogu, Director of the Igbo Village and Institute for African Heritage Studies (IVIAHS). The event, organized in collaboration with the Anambra State Ministry of Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, drew a diverse audience, including government officials, university administrators, students, traditional rulers, cultural troupes, and representatives from the Chinese community at UNIZIK, alongside business and industry leaders.
In his address, Fr. Umeogu highlighted IVIAHS’s mission to advance Igbo knowledge systems through academic research and structured programs. He revealed that the newly established Center for Traditional Medicine seeks to integrate indigenous healing practices into formal education, with plans to roll out degree programs in the discipline.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK, Prof. Joseph I. Ikechebelu, lauded Fr. Umeogu and his team for their exceptional work in organizing cultural festivals such as Iri-Ji UNIZIK, Ohazurume Igbo Festival, and Igu Aro UNIZIK. He commended the directorate’s dedication to preserving and promoting Igbo heritage.
This groundbreaking initiative positions UNIZIK as a pioneer in the academic recognition of traditional medicine, fostering cultural preservation while advancing scholarly research in indigenous knowledge systems.
— Admin Nibo
