NAHE, HEPN Storms ESUT for National Conference

By Amaechi Agbo

The Nigerian Association for Health Educators (NAHE) and Health Educators and Practitioners of Nigeria (HEPN) will converge on the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) this week for the association’s 28th Annual National Conference.

The four-day conference, themed “Reimagining Health Education: Building Resilient Systems, Empowering Healthy Nations,” will begin on Wednesday, June 24, with the arrival of participants and dignitaries from across the country, while the main sessions will run from June 25 to 27 at the Prof. Julius Onah Auditorium, ESUT Main Campus, Ebeano City, Enugu.

The conference will be declared open by the ESUT Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie.

A high-powered delegation of academics, government officials, local government chairmen, traditional rulers and students is expected at the event, led by NAHE National President, Prof. Raheem Adaramaja Shehu, who is also the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board.

The conference is expected to deepen collaboration between academia and government in addressing Nigeria’s public health challenges.

The Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, will deliver the keynote address, while the Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, and Prof. Evelyn Nwagu are among the guest speakers.

Other dignitaries expected at the conference include the Enugu State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubeze Mbah; Executive Chairman of the Post-Primary Schools Management Board, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hillary Mgbodile; Executive Chairman of ESUBEB, Assoc. Prof. Banko Okibe; Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Chris Ngwu; Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu; Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government, Hon. John Ogbodo; and Chairman of Oji River Local Government, Hon. Greg Anyaegbudike.

Traditional rulers expected at the conference include Igwe Ikechukwu Asadu, Igwe Umunnabike Ejim and Igwe Charles Egbo Nwoye.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee and immediate past Director of Sports at ESUT, Prof. Ngozi Rita Ani, said preparations for the event began months ago with a courtesy visit to the university management and a Health Talk and Awareness Day held for students and staff on June 9.

She expressed confidence in the university’s readiness to host the national gathering and thanked the ESUT management, the NAHE national leadership, the Enugu State chapter and students for their support.

“ESUT is fully prepared to host our national delegates. We appreciate the confidence reposed in us by the National President and his executive council, as well as the support from the university management and all stakeholders,” she said.

The 28th NAHE National Conference is expected to address critical issues in community health, public health, hygiene education and sustainable healthcare delivery in Nigeria.