Dr Chinyere Cecilia Ogbonna : Landmarks In Natural Medicine

Dr Chinyere Cecilia Ogbonna is a woman with a heart of gold and a body cast in steel. She believes that impossibility only exists in the world of the fickle- minded and lilly-livered. She is at once, a seasoned medic, health care practitioner, entrepreneur, author and expert in naturopathy.

She is indeed one of the few who have contributed to the uplift and broadening of the scope of natural medicine in Nigeria. She comes with a lot of ingenuity and innovativeness, and most of her research efforts have yielded bountiful dividends. An indefatigable professional, who knows her onions, Ogbonna’s practice is hinged on her age – long ambition which is to help the ailing recover, rediscover their health and wellness as well as maintain good health through natural and harmless approaches.

Chinyere Ogbonna runs a number of health care and allied outfits including Ugo Natural Health Services, Fobnar Health Foundation and Ugo Wellness Centre. A Fellow of the Academy of Natural Medicine, this nurse turned naturopathist is currently, a member of the Lagos State Board of Traditional Medicine.

Mrs Ogbonna comes from Umuogele Village, Umuakwu Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State.She was trained as a nurse at the famous Amachara Methodist Hospital, Umuahia where she left an enviable record of professional excellence and also obtained a Grade I Certificate in Midwifery. She was the toast of the principal officers at this institution and by the time she left, Chinyere Ogbonna had reached the rank of Matron with numerous awards of proficiency in her kitty.

She won the Nurses Arts Competition in 1974 with a poem titled, “A Home of Redeemed Souls”. A creative masterpiece, Chinyere’s poem has been adopted as the official anthem of the institution. Even with the accolades and commendations then, she did not feel quite fulfilled. According to her, she believed that there must be hidden treasures in the world of healing which abound in the fields and forests. Those haunting thoughts and sense of curiosity stimulated her interest to venture into the terrain of natural medicine.

The quest to attain excellence in her new- found love (natural medicine) took her to places far and near (in most cases outside the shores of the Nigeria) where she garnered the requisite tutelage and grooming. She holds both the Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Naturopathy from the Nigeria College of Natural Medicine as well as the Certificate in Therapeutic Massage and Body Works. She also has a Diploma in Nutritional Healing from the Institute of Alternative Medicine, India.

She has a Masters degree in Nutritional Therapy from the Open University of Alternative Medicine, India and a Postgraduate Diploma in HIV Education and Management from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). Dr Chinyere Ogbonna has been influenced by the works of several acclaimed natural medicine practitioners including Jethro Kloss, Dr Kncippe and Elizabeth Kafaru. She has relied on the teachings and mentorship of these personalities to become a most reliable authority and renowned practitioner today.

She established Ugo Natural Health Services in 2006, and the outfit is known to be a one stop centre for health and wellness, research, natural healing and development. Fobnar Health Foundation, which is a non-government organisation specialises in advocacy for the promotion of good health through good nutrition and healthy  habits. Mrs. Ogbonna is a renowned writer and columnist who has contributed articles and feature stories on health to several newspapers and publications including The Guardian, The Sun, Champion, Festac News, The Festac Resident and Total Health. She is the author of three published books namely Secrets of Health & Longevity,  Healing Powers of Fruits, Eat to Live and Digging the Grave with the Teeth.

Dr Ogbonna contributes to several programmes on  radio and television channels. She is the in-house consultant and nutritionist for the “Health Matters” segment of NTA 2, Channel 7. She is a part-time lecturer with the Lagos State Board of Traditional Medicine as well as a member of the Amuwo – Odofin Local Health Authority. She is the pioneer President of the Nigerian Naturopathic Medical Association and also the Co-ordinator of Asa-Amato Women Organisation.

Chinyere Ogbonna is married with children and an adept at gardening, reading, writing and floral art.It was in recognition of her contribution to national development in the area of Natural Medicine that she was conferred with the PSR Woman of Merit Gold Award in the year 2014.