Lagos: The Lagos State University (LASU) is set to host the 2026 edition of the International Conference of Community Psychology (ICCP), which aims to promote well-being and positive change at community and societal levels. The announcement was made by the Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, during a news conference held at the university.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, LASU will collaborate with the Nigerian Psychological Association and the Pan-African Psychology Union to organize the conference. The ICCP 2026 will unfold in three distinct phases: pre-conference activities from August 28-30, the main conference from September 1-4, and post-conference activities from September 8-7. Each phase is designed to enhance academic engagement, community interaction, professional networking, and cultural exchange.
Prof. Olatunji-Bello emphasized the significance of community psychology, a branch of psychology that explores the relationships between individuals and their environments. The discipline’s primary goal is to promote well-being and positive change at community and societal levels by addressing social injustice, mental health challenges, and systemic inequalities through collaborative efforts with communities.
The theme for ICCP 2026, ‘Gathering in the Motherland: Celebrating Waves of the Waters, and Reconnecting to the Source,’ highlights Africa as the origin of humanity and knowledge, emphasizing the importance of integrating global psychological practices with indigenous wisdom and community-driven solutions.
The vice-chancellor noted that Lagos and LASU were selected as hosts due to Lagos’s status as Nigeria’s most popular state and a hub for tourism, trade, and innovation. The city is recognized for its intellectual leadership, cultural vibrancy, and economic vitality. Hosting ICCP 2026 at LASU underscores the university’s role as a center for international academic exchange.
Conference participants will engage in scholarly discussions while experiencing the cultural and social offerings of Lagos State. Prof. Olatunji-Bello assured that safety, security, transportation, entertainment, and accommodation would meet international standards to ensure a rewarding stay for the global audience.
The conference will introduce a broader approach to addressing Africa’s systemic human development challenges, providing the continent with an opportunity to contribute to global research in community psychology. The discipline offers tools to tackle issues like structural poverty and political instability.
Prof. Olatunji-Bello called on governments, multinational companies, philanthropists, and organizations to support LASU in hosting the event, which promises opportunities for branding, advertising, networking, and community impact.