AND NOW, AGAIN, OVER TO YOU
Last week, I had deliberately let Dr. Hadiza Nuhu shine alone, as she so rightly deserves. But behind every successful woman is a man, to ‘upside down’ the popular saying. Hadiza is the wife of our good brother and senior academic colleague Idris Bugaje, also a PhD and Professor at both Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, […]
Last week, I had deliberately let Dr. Hadiza Nuhu shine alone, as she so rightly deserves. But behind every successful woman is a man, to ‘upside down’ the popular saying. Hadiza is the wife of our good brother and senior academic colleague Idris Bugaje, also a PhD and Professor at both Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Maiduguri, with visitations at other universities, including in Malaysia. At present, he is Director General of National Agency for Research in Chemical Technology, NARICT, Zaria. (And don’t go ‘Haba! Ko da na ji!’ or ‘I thought as much!’) The lady is her own success story, I tell you.
But first, some caveats: there are rules on advertising. This newspaper charges hundreds of thousands of Naira for a full page advert (but allows us to give good leads to good causes as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR). Hadiza definitely doesn’t have the money to place a full-page ad (but may soon have, in sha Allah). Secondly, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON, of which I am thankfully a member and the Registrar of which is our senior colleague in the profession, Garba Bello Kanlarofi) would want a cut in the cake. Thirdly, there are Federal, State and Local Government laws regulating advertising of medicinal products. As I am aware of them all, I advised Hadiza to send her contact details so she can be communicated with directly by members of NACMS (and many we are). And I warned her of the consequences: a deluge of communication from sufferers who would want to abandon their orthodox doctors for her Herb 25. Hadiza has obliged; so email me privately and I shall send you her contact details.
Talking about those orthodox doctors, as predicted last week, a couple of them have contacted me to protest my giving publicity to ‘untested concoctions’ which may prove to be harmful in the end. Not failing to remind them of Herb 25’s NAFDAC registration (not to mention the 12 years of research), I found myself gradually being pressed into the historical Doctor-Pharmacist war. Well, I have asked the doctors to subject Herb 25 to their own type of tests and submit a 1000-word academic or journalistic critique, and it will be given vent as well. They haven’t, yet.
But I just realised I could have known Herb 25 earlier: our own Sister Aisha Umar-Yusuf, fellow columnist one-time editor of Aminiya and two-time author of another thing (if you get my meaning, which you don’t) has known Herb 25 all along, and she had even got a whole carton from Hadiza and shared same with colleagues on the newspaper’s Editorial Board last year. (Missed that as I was absent at that particular meeting, boo-hoo!). Aisha says: “Thanks so much for that well-deserved tribute to my dear friend, sister and role model [Hadiza]. I never knew you were a malaria patient when she sent me a whole carton to distribute at our Editorial Board last year. Hadiza is humble, spiritual and a true friend. I have great admiration for her. She inspires me with her hard work and honesty.”
Another member of the Editorial Board who was apparently absent at the Herb 25-sharing meeting was Muhammad Al-Ghazali who says: “Salam, my brother. Your last column generated a lot of excitement among my friends across different social classes. They all asked about how they could access your Herb 25 wonder drug. I must confess I am also severely in need! I also suffer from frequent attacks from malaria and would welcome a donation of a few packs as a kind gesture to a fellow columnist. I hope you are not laughing! Thanks so much in advance.” And now, a selection of other reactions from members of NACMS, led by our new ‘Chairman’:
MUHAMMAD JIBRIL: Move over Mallam Bala: a change is hereby effected in the NACMS: I take over as Chairman, your doctor goes for Secretary and you have to settle for PRO. Congrats to Dr. Khadeeja Nooh and to you.
ADAMU ISA: Yours made interesting reading and was long overdue! The formation of NACMS is also long overdue! I tempted to be both the Chairman and Secretary General all in one! Due to malaria, my efficiency has gone down by about 60-80%. I have given up all hope and have refused to continue poisoning my system with more with drugs. But note that herbalpointservices.com website is down.
ALFA AHMED: I have also used Herb 25 and it was really very effective as malaria cure. My advice to the producers is to improve on the packaging. Most often the tea bags are not strong, thereby tearing easily in the cup.
SHARAFA ONAOLAPO: Glad to have read about the new medicine. This is a good development for us in Nigeria, bearing in mind that malaria is prevalent in Africa, and the solution must come from Africa. Dr. Hadiza should now make adequate effort to ensure that Herb 25 is well distributed throughout the country and make a publication of locations.
MAHMUD NDATSU: Thank you very much for celebrating Dr. Hadiza Nuhu and her wonderful research findings. May Allah SWT increase her wisdom and knowledge. The multinationals you fear are already at work: Hadiza’s website is down! And I apply to be NACMS Deputy Secretary.