Family of 3 doctors and 3 pharmacists: Dr Carl Onunkwo celebrates as last daughter graduates from medical school
It was a celebration marked with pomp and pageantry as Chief Dr Sir Carlistus Onunkwo (KSM) Ozouwandu 1 of Osina Ancient kingdom, gathered family members, relatives, friends and well wishers to rejoice with his family for the successful graduation of his last child, Dr. Lauren Chisom Onunkwo, from the Medical School at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, on June 23, 2026.
After the graduation ceremony which took place at the Old Great Hall, LUTH, friends and well wishers headed to the grand reception venue, the popular Chapel of St Jude, Idi-Araba, where the loving, amiable and generous man, the man who loves his Community so passionately, hosted his guests to a sumptuous party to thank God almighty for His grace upon his family.
Himself a Medical doctor, married to his heartthrob, a pharmacist, Pharm (Lady) Celine Chinasa; who happens to be the first Pharmacist produced by Osina Town, a Fellow of the West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacy (FPC Pharm) Pharm Celine Onunkwo is currently the Director, and National Coordinator, National Supply Chain Management Programme. The duo of Doctor Onunkwo and Pharm Celine have produced two doctors and two pharmacists, which by every imagination is a no mean feat and called for celebration.
As a community Leader, the creme de la creme in Osina Ancient Community in Lagos were all in attendance to rejoice with this rare gem whose great feat and accomplishment called for emulation.
The erudite medical doctor and member of the Archdiocesan Health Advisory Board, who has rendered so many life-saving services to his community both at home and in the Diaspora, was seen exchanging pleasantries and handshakes as he welcomed visitors to the grand ceremony.
Speaking to journalists at the event which was garnished with much entertainment, food and drinks of assorted types, Dr Carl Onunkwo (Ozouwandu) expressed deep appreciation to God almighty who made it possible for his children to accomplish their dreams and for keeping him and his wife alive, “In fact you will be surprised how I feel. My feeling is not just about my daughter becoming a doctor, realizing her vision, it is for God who kept me alive, to see all of my children achieve their objectives, some medical doctors, some pharmacists, these are courses that take a long while to accomplish. I know some people who have lost their lives, some, their parents, along the way, but God kept me and my wife alive and healthy. So the extent of my happiness and joy cannot be quantified. I am happy. I give God all the glory, all the honour, all the adoration, that today came to pass.”
A doctor by profession, his wife, a pharmacist, and out of the four children, two studied medicine while the other two became pharmacists, whether it was by arrangement or mere coincidence, Dr Onunkwo responded. “It is the same God, all I did was to provide good environment for my children to study, and realize their ambitions, I never for once asked any of them to go and study Medicine or Pharmacy. No. They decided on their own what to go and study. And I will tell them to be sure you are going to pass, I would also always tell them that to get into University of Lagos is by merit, so if you are not sure you cannot put University of Lagos. But today I am so happy they came out the way they wanted. It wasn’t by my own design or by arrangement, they decided what to study, so it was by God’s design. We looked up to God, and He made it possible and completed what He started in the lives of these children.”
The erudite Doctor commented on the standard of medical practice in Nigeria, saying “The standard of medical training is the same. If any child is able to pass his or her courses in the medical school, he is qualified to practice. They don’t pamper it. You don’t know who will be the first patient that pampered doctor would meet, it may be you, so standard is the same.
“However, in this modern world, the influence of social media, modernisation, and the age we are today have affected the way some doctors behave today after graduation, not before graduation. As at today, they are all very sound doctors. Then how they go on with their lives after today, influence by social media, influence by whatever, determine how good they will be as doctors; they have been trained as standard doctors, so what happens next will depend on how they conduct their lives, avoid distractions, focus and improve themselves,” Dr Onunkwo disclosed.
His advice to his doctor daughter and indeed to all those who graduated with her. “Be intentional, medical practice is a vocation, it is not really a profession, you have to be attached to people, you want to help people to solve problems, you have to be compassionate, and you have to have the fear of God in all you do, and that is the foundation I am laying with my children, you have to have these cardinal situations, one, you have to be committed to your profession, you have to be committed to humanity, and have focus, discipline, and compassionate, once you have it you are going to fly very high.”
Chief Matthias Nwanedo (Onyemaraihegeshokwu 1 of Osina) former Chairman, Osina Town Union, Lagos Branch and also former Deputy General Manager, Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan, speaking on how Osina Ancient kingdom can benefit from education said, “The importance of education in Osina Ancient Kingdom cannot be over emphasized. Hitherto, it was people in the commercial sector that mattered most in the community, but much later, our people realized the importance of education, and they made it a point of duty that every child of Osina decent must be educated; and this is being done, there is no segregation between males and females. So I thank God for this realization, and I wish Osina Ancient kingdom the best.”
On his advice to Chisom, the latest doctor in Dr Onunkwo’s family, he said, “Well I congratulate her, and I wish her the best of luck, I want her to be humble in her profession, like her father and mother, the sky will be the limit. I wish her well.”
Chief Chukwudi Aloy Emeh (Okadigbo of Osina) on his part said, “We are here to rejoice, entertain ourselves and be happy, because Osina has produced another medical doctor. That is why we gather here to rejoice with our own brother, Chief (Dr) Carlistus Onunkwo (Ozouwandu) whose daughter has just graduated from the medical school.
“And I advise our young men to put eye on the ground, to be able to see the quality that Osina of today has, Osina has everything as of today. Our children are intelligent and we are training our children to appreciable level, educated in various fields, we have Medical doctors, Pharmacists, Surveyors, Engineers, name it. I am pleading, our young men, let them put eyes on the ground because there are beautiful things in our community, Osina.
“A few years ago, we were also exactly here to celebrate with this doctor when his son graduated as a pharmacist, while we were celebrating, there was another group celebrating a young girl who made first class in pharmacy, To our greatest surprise she happened to be our daughter, from the same Osina but we didn’t know. It is that bad, so many of our daughters making the nation proud but we the people of Osina don’t know. So there is need for a change of attitude, and that was the reason, Osina Town Union Lagos Branch opened what we called Young Adaugo and Osina Golden Boys platform so that our young men and women can have a platform to meet and know themselves. In those days our forefathers designed moonlight games, but today things have changed and because of time and space, we say, okay, let them have such platform, from there they would know one another. We can’t just train our beautiful daughters and someone from Kafanchan will come and take them away,” Chief Emeh stated.
Among those who graced the occasion with their rare presence were, the Business Mogul and Auto dealer of international reputation, Chief Ogoo Umeh, Nnabuenyi of Ideato nation; Chairman Osina Town Union Lagos Branch, Chief Chukwudi Aloy Emeh, Okadigbo 1 of Osina; immediate past President (PG) Osina Town Union, Chief Kelechi Ejeagwu (Emezioha), former Chairman, OTU Lagos Branch, Chief Sir Ernest Eze (Orabukwueze na Osina); Chief Chukwuamaka Chikwesiri (Urudinanwa) (Vice Chairman) OTU Lagos Branch, Ide Chief Chigozie Mmonu, Public Relations Officer, OTU Lagos Branch, Chief Nduka Uzor, OTU Representative to Imo State Town Development Association Lagos (ISTDAL), Mazi Cyriacus Nnaji, Media Practitioner, OTU Representative to ISTDAL and former Secretary General, OTU Lagos Branch.
Other great men and women of timber and caliber who were also in attendance included High Chief (Barr) Paschal Nwadike, Dim Enyi-Ononiwu1 of Akpulu Ancient Kingdom; High Chief Chuks Onyebuchi, an I T mogul (Onwa Gburugburu); Sir Sam Ok para; Pharm Chief George Nwagha; Pharm K. C. Eke ( Representing Strides Pharmaceuticals; Mr Francis Ohale of Solid Accord Pharmaceuticals; Professors of the University of Lagos College of Medicine; and Consultants at LUTH.
In attendance also we’re colleagues of the mother and father of the celebrant from Abuja, and Lagos. Several Reverend Fathers of the Jesuit Order (the celebrant attended Loyola Jesuit College Abuja) They christened her the First daughter of Loyola, being their first female doctor within the country.
There were also several doctors, Pharmacists and other professionals from far and near, were also on ground to grace the occasion, including NAFDAC staff who are colleagues of the elder sister, a pharmacist with NAFDAC were also on ground as part of the celebration.
