Accra, April 3, 2025 — In a historic virtual launch that drew over 1,000 participants from across the globe, Nyarkotey College of Holistic Medicine and Technology, in partnership with the Vanuatu Trade Commission Ghana, unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to offer 100% scholarships to train one million Africans in herbal medicine and naturopathy.
The program, launched on April 3, 2025, marks a monumental step in making natural medicine education accessible across the African continent and beyond. Attendees hailed from Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, DR Congo, The Gambia, Jamaica, the USA, the Caribbean, and several other nations, reflecting a growing global interest in alternative medicine and African traditional healing practices.
Prominent dignitaries graced the event, including Melvin Brown, President of the Parliament of the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) Parliament, who delivered a powerful address lauding the initiative as a timely response to the growing demand for affordable training in herbal medicine. “This program is not just an educational revolution—it’s a liberation movement for African health systems,” Mr. Brown emphasized.
Also present was Dr. Julian Ng, CEO of Warnborough College, Ireland, who commended Nyarkotey College for its visionary leadership in expanding access to holistic health education. He was joined by Dr. Matina Chronopoulou, Head of the Naturopathic Medicine Department at Warnborough College, who expressed strong support for collaborative efforts to advance naturopathy in Africa.
Prof. Charles Maponga of the University of Zimbabwe also applauded the initiative and announced that he is in the process of developing a Diploma program in Naturopathic medicine in collaboration with Nyarkotey College.
From Ghana, Nana Obiri, General Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Traditional and Alternative Medicine Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM), and Dr. Albert Arthur, President of the Ghana Alternative Medical Practitioners Association (GAMPA), both hailed the initiative as a game-changer. Dr. Arthur stressed, “The cost of training complementary and alternative medicine practitioners abroad is often prohibitive. This program is a timely intervention.”
The Trade Commissioner for Vanuatu in Ghana, Prof. Hugh Aryee, expressed deep appreciation for the efforts of Nyarkotey College. “We are amazed by the overwhelming participation and support. The Vanuatu Trade Commission, together with the African Diasporan Central Bank (ADCB), is committed to providing further support in AKL Lumi funding to scale this initiative and train more Africans in herbal and naturopathic medicine,” he declared.
Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, President of Nyarkotey College and a leading voice for naturopathy in Africa, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Vanuatu Trade Commissioner to Ghana and the African Diasporan Central Bank for their financial support. “This funding will go a long way in increasing awareness and building capacity in herbal and naturopathic medicine across Africa,” he said.
He further explained that the program will adopt a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) model—an innovative approach in African traditional medicine education. According to Prof. Nyarkotey, “MOOCs are powerful tools for democratizing education. They provide free and flexible access to quality learning materials, allowing anyone, anywhere, to study at their own pace. This is the first of its kind in Africa to use the MOOC concept specifically to train people in herbal and naturopathic medicine, and we are proud to pioneer it.”
MOOCs are online courses designed for unlimited participation and open access via the internet. They typically include video lectures, readings, interactive forums, and assessments. With the growing accessibility of internet connectivity, MOOCs have become a global trend in education—offering people in remote and underserved communities the chance to access quality training without financial or geographical barriers.
The training program is scheduled to commence on May 5, 2025, and run until July 1, 2025, and will be delivered virtually through the college’s Learning Management System (LMS). This method ensures wide accessibility, allowing participants from across Africa and the diaspora to benefit from the training.
The launch signals a transformative chapter for natural medicine in Africa, empowering communities with knowledge, enhancing healthcare delivery, and recognizing the rich heritage of African herbal healing practices. For further information about the scholarship program and enrollment process, contact Nyarkotey College of Holistic Medicine and Technology.
