Wesley University Ondo Hosts Maiden International Community Health Conference, Expands Global Academic Footprint

Wesley University, Ondo, has hosted its maiden International Conference on Community Health, attracting participants from across Nigeria and the global academic community in a move to advance research, training, and innovation in primary healthcare.

The conference, which featured an opening ceremony and plenary session, provided a platform for critical engagement on emerging trends, challenges, and innovations shaping community health practice.

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel Sunday Obeka, said the conference reflects the university’s growing positioning as a hub for academic excellence, professional development, and international collaboration in healthcare education.

He noted that the institution has recorded significant transformation under his leadership, with academic programmes expanding from 23 to over 64. He added that previously dormant structures and academic activities have been revived and repositioned to align with global standards.

The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the establishment of a College of Engineering forms part of ongoing efforts to diversify the university’s academic offerings and strengthen its competitiveness.

On staff welfare, he said the university now maintains a consistent salary structure, ensuring prompt monthly payments, in contrast to previous periods marked by delays.

He also highlighted a policy allowing graduates to receive their original certificates on the day of convocation, describing it as a rare practice among Nigerian universities aimed at improving administrative efficiency and graduate satisfaction.

Prof. Obeka further revealed that Wesley University now runs postgraduate programmes up to doctoral level in Community Health, Theology, and other disciplines, reflecting its expanding academic capacity.

He added that the institution has established a dedicated facility for deaf education, complete with interpreters and accommodation support for hearing-impaired students, as part of its commitment to inclusive education.

The Vice-Chancellor used the occasion to invite stakeholders to the university’s convocation scheduled for November 21, 2026, and announced plans to launch a Journal on Community Health to boost research output and international collaboration.

The Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria commended the initiative, describing the conference as a significant step in advancing community health education in the country.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Board, Dr. Bashir Idris, praised the Vice-Chancellor’s leadership, noting that his contributions are positively impacting both the profession and national development. He reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the university in training and capacity building.

In his vote of thanks, the Dean of the College of Social and Management Sciences, Prof. Dayo Duyile, commended the university leadership for its sustained drive toward institutional growth and transformation. He also appreciated stakeholders and participants for their contributions to the success of the conference.

As part of post-conference activities, participants toured the College of Community Health, where a newly completed complex was named in honour of the Board’s Registrar/Chief Executive Officer.

The Board also made a financial contribution to the university, reinforcing its support for the development of community health education in Nigeria. The event drew wide participation from community health practitioners and stakeholders, further underscoring the institution’s growing influence in the sector.