The need for improved and quality health education in Nigeria has been emphasised as a critical step towards building a healthy, productive and economically prosperous nation.
A Professor of Health Education at the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Ikere-Ekiti, Professor Temitope Alade, made the call while delivering the university’s 10th inaugural lecture.
Speaking on the importance of health education to national development, Prof. Alade warned that a country that fails to provide its citizens with sound and accessible health education may struggle to achieve meaningful development and sustainable economic growth.
He therefore called on governments, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, development partners and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen investment in health education and public health awareness.
According to the don, health educators have a critical role to play in promoting healthy people and a healthy nation by equipping individuals and communities with the knowledge, attitudes and skills required to make informed decisions about their health.
He explained that health educators serve as important agents of behavioural change through the design, implementation and evaluation of health education programmes targeting both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Prof. Alade noted that their responsibilities also include promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging preventive healthcare practices and improving public understanding of major health challenges.
He said, “Health educators play a vital role in promoting Healthy People, Healthy Nation initiatives and enhancing national productivity in Nigeria by empowering individuals and communities with knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to make informed health decisions.
“They serve as key agents of behaviour change by designing, implementing, and evaluating health education programmes that address both communicable and non-communicable diseases, promote healthy lifestyles, and encourage preventive health practices.”
The university don further highlighted the role of health educators in schools, communities and the media, saying their interventions help to increase public awareness of hygiene, nutrition, reproductive health, substance abuse prevention and disease control.
He stressed that the role of health educators is particularly important in Nigeria, where preventable diseases and health misinformation continue to pose challenges to public health.
According to him, health educators can also contribute to improved health literacy by advocating sound public health policies and helping citizens understand and adopt evidence-based health practices.
“Their work contributes directly to improved population health outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and enhanced workforce productivity, as healthy individuals are more capable of contributing effectively to economic and social development,” he said.
Prof. Alade added that health educators are central to achieving sustainable national development, the Healthy People agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by creating a healthier, better-informed and more productive population.
How Nigeria Can Promote Healthy Living
The professor identified several measures that could help Nigerians adopt healthier lifestyles and improve overall population health.
He advocated for expanded access to preventive healthcare, stronger workplace health promotion programmes, improved nutrition and healthy eating habits, as well as regular physical activity.
He also called for greater investment in health education as a means of sustaining the country’s human capital and improving the quality of life of citizens.
Reflecting on his inaugural lecture, Prof. Alade said he presented his contributions with humility and in the interest of the university, Ekiti State, Nigeria and humanity.
He said, “I did this with all sense of modesty, consciously avoiding an over sell but at the same time disseminating my major contributions for the good of my University, BOUESTI, Ekiti State, the nation, and mankind.
“To sustain the value chains and good life for our teeming population, there is need for aggressive exploration in health education.”
The professor also pointed to the availability of qualified human resources at BOUESTI, saying the institution has experts whose knowledge and expertise could be leveraged by stakeholders and investors seeking to advance health education and related sectors in Nigeria.
“Mr. Vice-Chancellor Sir, here in BOUESTI, we have the heads, I mean the human resources that the stakeholders and investors in Nigeria can leverage on,” he added.
BOUESTI VC Urges Stakeholders to Act on Recommendations
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of BOUESTI, Professor Babatunde Omojola, urged relevant stakeholders to pay attention to and implement the recommendations contained in the inaugural lecture.
Prof. Omojola described the lecture as timely, stressing that health remains fundamental to the growth and development of any society.
He encouraged stakeholders to utilise the knowledge and recommendations presented by the university’s inaugural lecturer to strengthen health education, promote healthier lifestyles and contribute to improved health outcomes across the country.
The lecture further underscored the importance of universities in generating knowledge and providing practical solutions to some of Nigeria’s pressing health and development challenges.
