Abuja: The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has urged tertiary and specialised health institutions in Nigeria to continuously review curricula to align with emerging public health priorities. The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Mr. Sunday Echono, made the call at the sixth Society for Public Health Professionals of Nigeria (SPHPN) and 37th Professional Association of Public Health Nurses of Nigeria (PAPHNON) Joint Scientific Conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Echono, represented by Prof. Saidu Ibrahim, a member of the National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee, delivered his address on his behalf at the conference themed ‘Public Health in a Changing World: Innovation, Equity and Global Health Security.’ Echono emphasized the importance of education as a sustainable investment in strengthening the health system, noting that recent public health challenges like COVID-19, Lassa fever, Ebola, and antimicrobial resistance had reshaped public health priorities.
He highlighted the need for Nigeria to develop a new generation of public health professionals who are multidisciplinary, technologically proficient, and globally competitive. Echono called for health institutions to produce graduates equipped with theoretical knowledge and practical competencies in areas like disease surveillance, health promotion, epidemiology, and emergency preparedness. He also stressed the importance of integrating business-related courses into health education to provide professionals with skills in financial management and entrepreneurship.
Echono outlined TETFund’s commitment to enhancing tertiary education and national development through strategic investments in teaching, research, and infrastructure. He mentioned various initiatives, including research on Lassa fever and infectious diseases, the Medical School Revitalisation Programme, and the promotion of research and innovation as critical pillars of a strong health system.
Echono urged Nigeria to embrace emerging technologies while promoting equity and accessibility in healthcare. He called for stronger partnerships among government, academia, and industry to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and create supportive working environments for health professionals, both domestically and within the diaspora.
Earlier, SPHPN National President Prof. Stephen Abah emphasized the urgency of building a future-ready public health workforce and advancing health sovereignty. He stressed the relevance of the conference theme in light of changing health threats and declining external funding, advocating for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to develop sustainable health solutions.
The conference brought together over 5,000 public health professionals from Nigeria and other countries, reaffirming SPHPN’s commitment to professional excellence and workforce development. Abah urged participants to move from dialogue to implementation and measure success through actionable commitments and health gains.