Lagos, Nigeria – The 6th Convocation Ceremony of the Open International College of Naturopathic Medicine (OICNM) was held yesterday, Saturday, February 4, 2023, at the NERDC Building in Ikeja, Lagos. The President of the College, Mr. Ahmad AbdulAzeez, delivered an inspiring opening speech that motivated the graduating students to strive for positive change in their future careers.
The Convocation Lecture was centered around the topic “Redefining Natural Medicine in Nigeria” and was delivered by Professor Adefule Ositelu. The erudite Professor of Surgery and Ophthalmology highlighted the need for the government to get fully involved in passing the bill on natural medicine into law. She emphasized the importance of collaboration between traditional and orthodox practitioners and highlighted the success stories of traditional medicine in other countries. Professor Ositelu also pointed to Madagascar’s development of a cure for COVID-19, which was silenced by Western powers for their own selfish gain, and the discovery of the smallpox vaccine in Africa.
In her speech, Professor Ositelu also spoke about her own experience as the chair of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board. She explained that it took 40 different meetings to unite the practitioners and expressed her disappointment with the slow progress being made in natural medicine, due to some elements within the government who wish to circumvent their efforts. She encouraged the graduates to take up positions of authority and make policies that positively impact natural medicine in Nigeria.
The Provost of OICNM, Dr..Qazeem Olawale, also known as Dr. Olaking, shared his passion for founding the school, which was to phase out quackery practices in the field of natural medicine. Also speaking at the event was Dr. Aliyu Bamidele Oke. He spoke about the laws and ethics governing natural medicine practice as enshrined in the Nigerian 1999 Constitution.
The ceremony was filled with prominent figures in the field of natural medicine, and prizes and awards were given out to deserving students, including Owoyemi Zainab, who emerged as the overall best student and also won awards for being the best departmental student and for another position. The students were also awarded degree certificates for their hard work and dedication to their studies.
The event was a resounding success, filled with men and women of substance in the field of naturopathic medicine, including Dr. Olaniyan Olugbemi Tope and Dr. Christian Edison, amongst others.
The graduates left the ceremony feeling motivated, inspired, and ready to make a positive impact in their careers. The 6th Convocation Ceremony of the Open International College of Naturopathic Medicine was a celebration of the achievements of the students and a testament to the growth and success of natural medicine in Nigeria.
