Copyright tribuneonlineng
The Director, Institute of Drug Research and Development at the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Professor Olaposi Omotuyi, has advocated the harmonisation of both orthodox and traditional medicine practices in combating deadly diseases and ailments in the society. The Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics explained that there is a need for a dual approach in medicine to tackle the growing cases of diabetes, prostate disease and breast cancer. He spoke during a virtual maiden edition of the Professor Omotuyi annual lecture 2025, with the theme, ‘ Lessons from My Lab and the Land,’ organised by a committee of friends. Omotuyi noted that diet, especially the consumption of processed food, is contributing to the cases of diabetes and other life-threatening ailments, urging people to adopt the consumption of natural food items, including vegetables and stop consuming processed food. On the rising cases of diabetes patients in the society, the researcher stated that the rapid nutritional transition due to urbanisation and the market is making more people vulnerable and highly susceptible to the disease. “The current rapid nutrition transition (driven by urbanisation and market forces) is replacing these diets with processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and sugary drinks. This is the shift from a metabolically protective lifestyle to a vulnerable one. “Prevention & treatment must be cultural; we cannot fight this with generic Western health advice. Our pharmacological interventions must be culturally relevant. The solution lies in a paradigm shift back to our traditional diets, promoting indigenous ‘functional foods’ that our ancestors relied upon. The cure isn’t just a pill; it’s a return to healthy eating patterns rooted in our Land,” he said. Providing insights into cases of prostate health in men, Omotuyi said, ” it is safe to say that any cultural, pharmaceutical products that increase cholesterol, and testosterone will hurt Benign Prostate Hyperplasia. Please bear in mind that all ultra-processed food rich in refined sugar drives cholesterol synthesis, and the same goes for High-Fat Diets (from red meat). “The elephant in the room is sexual enhancing drugs/herbs/concoction that improvestestosterone production. Key examples are Fadogia agrestis, Carpolobia lutea G. Don (Egbo Oshunshun), and Mondia whitei (Isirigun). So, next time someone promises you a sexual enhancing herb, make sure follow-up questions are asked.” The expert further said, ” Our journey through the intricate landscapes of diabetes, prostate disease, and breast cancer has revealed a powerful, dual narrative. In one hand, we hold the precision of the laboratory—the genetic predispositions, the molecular targets, the receptor classifications that defineorthodox medicine’s powerful, yet often siloed, approach. “Orthodox medicine, with its rigorous evidence base, offers lifesaving diagnostics and targeted therapies. Traditional healing, honed over millennia, offers a holistic, accessible, and culturally resonant framework that often operates multi-targetedly, much like the complex diseases it seeks to treat. To ignore either is to fight with one hand tied behind our backs. “The path forward, therefore, is not to choose between the land and the lab, but to build a bridge between them. We must champion the harmonisation of orthodox and traditional healing practices through the lens of contemporary science. This is not a call for uncritical acceptance, but for rigorous, respectful integration. “Let us then move forward with both micropipettes and a deep respect for the roots. By weaving the precise threads of molecular science with the strong, resilient fabric of traditional wisdom, we can create a healthcaretapestry that is truly greater than the sum of its parts—one that heals the body, honours the culture, and is validated by the unwavering light of evidence.” Speaking, the chairman of the lecture event, Professor Babatunji Oyinloye, commended Professor Omotuyi for his deep understanding and research on the topic, acknowledging his exploits over the years in the drug and pharmaceutical sector. He called for more innovation in the health sector to address the challenges confronting the people towards achieving a healthier and productive society. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
