Author Information
Author: Gideon Emcee Christian
Affiliation: International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, Canada
Date: December 2009
Paper Details
Title: Digitization, Intellectual Property Rights and Access to Traditional Medicine Knowledge in Developing Countries – the Nigeria Experience
Author: Gideon Emcee Christian
Institution: International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
Year: 2009
Subject Area: Traditional Knowledge, Intellectual Property, Traditional Medicine, Nigeria
Overview
This paper examines the documentation and digitization of traditional medicine knowledge in Nigeria. It explores the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge and discusses intellectual property considerations, access, and benefit-sharing related to traditional medicine.
Main Areas Discussed
- Benefits of traditional medicine knowledge
- Documentation and digitization of traditional knowledge
- Obstacles to documentation
- Traditional medicine knowledge in Nigeria
- Role of government agencies and institutions
- Intellectual property rights and access to traditional medicine knowledge
Institutions Discussed
The paper examines documentation efforts by:
- Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA)
- Nigerian Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development
- Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme (BDCP)
Key Themes
- Traditional knowledge protection
- Intellectual property and traditional medicine
- Documentation challenges
- Digitization of indigenous knowledge
- Access and benefit-sharing
About the Article
The article discusses how documentation and digitization of traditional medicine knowledge can support innovation, healthcare development, and economic growth. It also highlights challenges such as lack of coordination, verification difficulties, and concerns from local communities regarding misuse of their knowledge.
Suggested Citation
Christian, Gideon Emcee
Documentation and Digitization of Traditional Medicine Knowledge in Nigeria
International Development Research Centre (IDRC), 2009
