LASU Hosts Global Psychology Conference as Experts Call for Community-Centred Health Solutions

Lagos State University (LASU) on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, became a global gathering point for scholars, researchers, psychologists, policymakers and community leaders as the 11th International Conference of Community Psychology (ICCP 2026) commenced with a call for stronger connections between research, policy and community well-being.

The conference, themed “Gathering in the Motherland: Celebrating Lifeways, Ways of Water and Reconnecting to the Source”, was held at the Femi Gbajabiamila Hall, Main Campus, Ojo, Lagos, and attracted participants from across Africa and beyond to examine how psychology can contribute to healthier communities, social inclusion and sustainable development.

Chairman of the opening ceremony and Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hon. Tolani SULE, described the conference theme as a profound invitation to reconnect with identity, memory, belonging and meaning, noting that these elements are central to psychology.

He said the gathering was particularly significant because it challenged participants to look beyond individuals and examine the wider social and environmental realities that shape human behaviour and well-being.

Hon. SULE stressed that psychology should not be regarded as an academic luxury but as a vital component of a healthy society. According to him, the discipline plays important roles in education, healthcare, governance, workplace productivity, security, conflict resolution and leadership.

He observed that despite rapid technological advancement and increased digital connectivity, many people remain emotionally disconnected, making psychological well-being increasingly important. The Commissioner argued that effective public policies must take into account the emotions, aspirations and experiences that influence how societies function.

The Commissioner described Lagos as an appropriate venue for the conference, calling the state a “living laboratory” of community interaction because of its diversity, cultural richness and history as a crossroads for people, ideas and opportunities.

He also commended LASU for increasingly positioning itself as a global hub for knowledge exchange, citing the University’s recent hosting of major international academic gatherings.

Hon. SULE reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education through sustained investments in infrastructure, research, innovation, staff welfare and student development. He, however, emphasised that great universities are ultimately built by people rather than physical structures alone.

Earlier, in her welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University and Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Distinguished Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola OLATUNJI-BELLO, mni, NPOM, described the conference as a landmark event for LASU, noting that it was the first time the University would host the prestigious international gathering.

She said Lagos, with its diversity, resilience and longstanding relationship with water, provided a natural setting for conversations around community, identity and collective well-being.

The Vice-Chancellor urged participants to move beyond merely studying communities to listening to them, understanding their realities and ensuring that research outcomes contribute meaningfully to improving lives.

Distinguished Professor OLATUNJI-BELLO further noted that the conference theme challenged scholars to examine the connections between people, place, culture, memory and community, while encouraging universities to remain closely connected to the societies they serve.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin ABAYOMI, Clinical Psychologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Leonard OKONKWO, said healthcare begins not in hospitals but within families, schools, workplaces and communities.

He explained that health outcomes are influenced by relationships, culture, socioeconomic conditions, the environment and social support systems, making community psychology an indispensable component of public health.

According to the keynote speaker, public health must move beyond treatment alone to focus more deliberately on prevention, well-being promotion and community resilience.

He called for the integration of mental health into primary healthcare systems and stronger partnerships among psychologists, healthcare professionals, policymakers and community leaders.

The keynote address also identified anxiety, depression, substance misuse, trauma and other psychological challenges as issues requiring community-based responses. Researchers were urged to ensure that academic knowledge is translated into practical interventions capable of improving lives.

Also speaking, the Alternate Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Professor Deborah ADEWUYI, emphasised the multidisciplinary nature of community psychology and called for stronger integration of psychological services with community development initiatives.

She highlighted the importance of practical engagement with communities, citing the delegates’ visit to Makoko as an example of how research, service and community realities can intersect to produce meaningful social impact.

Professor Andrew ZAMANI, President of the Pan-African Psychology Union (PAPU), in a virtual presentation, urged African psychologists to confront the historical and psychological consequences of slavery and colonialism while drawing on the continent’s resilience as a foundation for renewal.

Reflecting on the conference theme, Prof. ZAMANI noted that Africa’s waterways, once routes through which millions of people were transported into slavery, had become symbols of survival and hope.

He observed that the trauma of slavery and colonial rule had individual and collective consequences that continue to manifest in social alienation, sectarian crises, religious intolerance, corruption, violence and other developmental challenges.

He called for the conference to serve as a platform for shared learning and stronger partnerships between African psychologists on the continent and those in the diaspora, stressing that despite Africa’s linguistic, religious and ethnic diversity, Africans share a common identity.

Prof. ZAMANI challenged psychologists to critically engage with decolonisation, develop meaningful frameworks for collaboration between the diaspora and the motherland, and advocate for reparations for the human and natural resources taken from Africa during colonialism.

He identified these as key priorities for PAPU, alongside reshaping psychology education to reflect Africa’s diverse contexts and lived realities.

The conference continues with scientific sessions, panel discussions and community engagement activities aimed at promoting research collaboration, policy development and innovative approaches to strengthening community well-being across Africa and beyond.