By Rafiu Oladotun Odunaye/
Veteran journalist and renowned columnist Olufemi Kusa, whose weekly articles in The Nation newspaper have enlightened Nigerians on the power of herbal and alternative medicine, marked his 75th birthday on August 23, 2025.
Over the years, Kusa’s commitment to health education through journalism has earned him nationwide recognition, including a congratulatory letter from former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020, lauding his contribution to both the media and the health sector.
Many admirers fondly call him “Doctor”, not because he holds a medical degree, but because of his unmatched expertise and advocacy for natural healing.
Faith, Science, and Healing
Kusa’s work bridges the worlds of faith and medicine. Though not a Muslim, he once quoted Prophet Muhammad’s saying, “For every disease, there is a cure,” in one of his articles, urging believers to embrace herbal and alternative remedies as complements to prayer.
“Seeking treatment does not weaken faith,” he often implies, “it is a way of honouring God’s gift of knowledge.”
His writings have helped debunk misconceptions about herbal medicine and have encouraged both Muslims and Christians to see healing as a divine process that works through natural means.
A Turning Point
My interest in Kusa’s columns deepened after the passing of Mrs. Elizabeth Kafaru, whose story powerfully illustrated the potential of herbal treatment.
After being diagnosed with a terminal illness and abandoned by orthodox doctors, Mrs. Kafaru turned to herbal medicine, and lived many more years. She even gave birth to five children, after previously having two with her first husband, Dr. Okparaven of Sapele.
Critics often ask, “At what age did she die?” But the more relevant question is: “How many years did she live and thrive after orthodox medicine gave up on her?”
I sometimes wish I had embraced this field earlier. Perhaps I could have helped friends, like my primary school classmate who lost his sight to diabetes complications. Many people I cared about might still be alive today if I had known then what I know now about herbal healing.
A Life of Passion and Purpose
Through his writing and mentorship, Mr. Kusa promotes a lifestyle built around simplicity, balance, and gratitude. His core principles include:
• Plant-based diet — Fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, and tubers.
• Avoiding processed foods — A cornerstone of longevity.
• Regular physical activity — Exercise as medicine.
• Strong family and community ties — Love and connection as healing tools.
• Drinking alkaline water — For balance and detoxification.
Each of these habits, he insists, strengthens the immune system and supports the body’s natural healing processes.
The Power of Combining Treatments
The story of Pa S. K. Oye-Igbemo reinforces Kusa’s message about blending medical and alternative therapies.
Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, Pa Oye-Igbemo used Liquid Chlorophyll and Pau d’Arco supplements instead of surgery — and recovered fully. He later told me he had lived with hypertension since his twenties, yet reached age 86 before passing peacefully.
“Health,” Kusa would say, “is not the absence of disease but the harmony of body, mind, and spirit.”
This approach underscores that:
• Diet and lifestyle changes improve outcomes.
• Alternative therapies can complement modern medicine.
• Spiritual support is vital but should not replace treatment.
Lessons from the World’s Longest-Living Communities
My friend, veteran journalist Oluseyi Adebanjo, once gave me a Time Magazine issue titled “Secrets of Longevity” (February 26, 2018). It profiled five regions where people live into their 90s and beyond with little or no dementia: Sardinia (Italy) · Okinawa (Japan) · Nicoya (Costa Rica) · Loma Linda (California, USA) · Ikaria (Greece)
Common Lifestyle Traits
• Plant-based diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods.
• Physical activity such as daily walking (Sardinian shepherds average five miles a day).
• Strong family and community bonds, especially in Okinawa and Nicoya.
• Limited meat consumption, particularly among Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda.
• Clean, alkaline water as found naturally in Okinawa.
Key takeaway: Long life is not luck — it’s a lifestyle built on diet, movement, connection, and gratitude.
The Science of Staying Young
In his article “Anti-Aging Tips” (December 28, 2015), Kusa referenced two landmark books — Stop Aging Now by Jean Carper and Aging Without Growing Old by Judy Lindberg McFarland — explaining that aging accelerates when we overload our bodies with toxins from junk food, air pollution, and poor hydration.
Quoting Dr. (Rev.) George Malkmus, author of Hallelujah Acres, he wrote:
“We live in a poisoned environment — eating poisoned food, drinking poisoned water, breathing poisoned air — and failing to support our organs of detoxification.”
Kusa identified free radicals as “insane molecules” that damage cells and cause aging.
He stressed that antioxidants (found in vitamins C and E, zinc, selenium, and beta-carotene) neutralize these harmful agents and help prevent conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
He also highlighted melatonin, the “youth energy” hormone derived from the amino acid tryptophan, which the body converts to serotonin and then melatonin. Foods like sesame seeds, brown rice, peanuts, turkey, and fish can help sustain natural melatonin levels, promoting better sleep, mood, and vitality.
Conclusion
Mr. Femi Kusa’s lifelong advocacy for herbal medicine, natural nutrition, and wellness journalism continues to transform lives.
His pen has been both a scalpel and a salve, cutting through ignorance and healing through knowledge.
By combining faith, science, and nature, Kusa reminds us that health is within reach, if only we listen to the body and live in harmony with creation.
At 75, he remains an unyielding voice for holistic healing — and a teacher whose words still save lives.
To be continued.
Rafiu Oladotun Odunaye
Political Scientist and Herbal Researcher
📧 dotra56@gmail.com
