By Ude Ogbonnaya Israel
The Managing Director of Bauchi State Tourism Development Corporation, Dr. Muhammad Nasiru Yusuf, has called for Nigeria to leverage its biodiversity to drive medical tourism.
Dr. Nasiru made this call at the 2026 World Wildlife Day celebration in Abuja, themed “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihood”.
He presented a paper on “Nature’s Pharmacy: The Impact of Flora and Fauna on Alternative Medical Tourism in Nigeria (2026 Perspective)”.
Nigeria must formalize indigenous medicinal knowledge into a “Naija Wellness” brand, Dr. Nasiru said.
Integrating medicinal plants and zootherapy into medical tourism can contribute to the ₦12.3 trillion revenue target by 2032.
Rapid urbanization and climate change will reshape Nigeria’s landscape by 2050, making biodiversity protection imperative.
Bauchi’s Yankari Game Reserve is a model for conservation efforts, with security and surveillance systems safeguarding forest reserves.
The event recognized Bauchi State Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, as one of Nigeria’s Best Tourism-Friendly Governors.
This award highlights the state government’s commitment to conservation, eco-tourism, and positioning Bauchi as a leading sustainable tourism destination.
