| See what our herbal
doctors now drive
By Dipo Kehinde
Monday July 19, 2004
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•Dr
Ogaga (2nd left) and Dr Fahuwa flanked by their wives
at the award ceremony
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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Nothing else could have told the success story of herbal
medicine business in Nigeria better than the dazzling array
of flashy cars that brought some of the practitioners to the
ECC centre, in Ikeja, Lagos recently.
Tagged Icons Day, the event was organised by a group known
as Independent Alternative Medicine Writers Association, in
conjunction with Herbs and Root magazine, with the support
of Somen-Watson and Associate.
Among the icons at the event were Dr. Segun Fahuwa of the
Mr. Guarantee fame, Dr Bamidele Ogaga of Rodwell Healthcare
services and a co-presenter of New Dawn on NTA Channel 10.
Others include Chief S.A. Olowu, (Bulldozer), Bishop Magnus
Atilade, Dr Nneka Nwarueze, Alhaji T.A. Akeredolu, Chief Jimoh
Ojoaro and Dr Ayodele Akindipe.
It was a colourful ceremony and the atmosphere was filled
with the sweet scent of success. One would have thought that
some of the award recipients were modelling the latest collections
from Laballena or Silky Touch Boutique.
But most striking is the brand of cars herbal practitioners
are now riding - Lincoln Navigator, S-Class Mercedes
Benz, Lexus and other expensive cars.
Revealing the success secrets, Dr Fahuwa, who was once awarded
a doctorate in theology and religious matters, by the Bread
of Life Ministries of Lissenden Gardens, London, told Daily
Sun that about 80 per cent of Nigerians have now turned to
alternative medicine.
"There’s no need to go overseas looking for drugs,"
he said. "Whatever we’re looking for in Sokoto
is right here inside our sokoto (trousers). Alternative medicine
has opened a new chapter of lucrative career, which the new
generation must adopt.
"The culture and traditions of our fore-fathers prevail
in our life and the more inward we look, the easier we stand
to reduce unemployment rate and rising criminal acts of our
youths, juvenile delinquency, negligence and prevalent poverty
in our society."
Dr. Fahuwa has also received a gold merit award for distinguished
West African Corporate Achievers. And products from his development
of traditional and alternative medicine researches are first
to receive NAFDAC approval.
According to him, a career in alternative medicine is ideal
for youths in the country, now that there are traditional
alternative medicine departments under state Ministries of
Health.
He said: "The Federal Government has approved the purchase
of alternative medicine in pharmaceutical shops, as standardization
of alternative medicine has created larger development which
will make the profession more appealing to our youths as career."
While expressing joy at the growth of traditional medicine,
Dr. Ogaga called on government to further encourage the practitioners.
"I’m happy to receive this award,” he said.
"On the other hand, I’m hoping that in future,
it will encourage more people to appreciate what alternative
medicine is all about."
Dr Fahuwa said that through scientific researches he had been
able to develop cures for smallpox, stroke, diabetes, staphylococcus,
breast-cancer, sickle cell, hypertension, elephantiasis and
several other diseases and ailments which western medical
treatments cannot cure.
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