BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, EHCON, has overhauled its services, with a strong commitment to invest more on human health and safety, quality of life and the environment, while expanding the frontiers of professional knowledge in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
Registrar of EHCON, San Yakubu Mohammed Baba stated this at the official unveiling of 14 new curricula for Environmental Health and Public Health Programmes in Nigerian Polytechnics and Monotechnics on Friday in Abuja.
The programmes are designed to produce highly skilled professionals capable of contributing to improved sanitation, food safety and security, waste management, pollution prevention and control, disease surveillance,climate-change mitigation and adaptation.
Baba informed that improving occupational health and safety, and the protection of communities from environmental health risks were part of the programmes captured in the curriculum.
He informed that the programme aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, particularly those concerning good health and wellbeing, zero hunger, clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, and partnerships for sustainable development.
The initiative also corresponds with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration particularly its commitment to human-capital development, skills acquisition, employment creation, disease prevention, environmental sustainability and improved quality of life.
Baba informed that the Council is mindful of the need to adequately prepare lecturers, instructors, assessors and programme coordinators for effective implementation, adding that EHCON will work closely with NBTE and participating institutions to organise capacity-building and train-the-trainer programmes.
The curricula, which are scheduled for a joint review adaptation every five years given the dynamics in science and technology, will strengthen teaching competencies and ensure uniformed implementation across the country.
Quality Assurance
Baba hinted that as part of the implementation framework, the Council will support institutional readiness assessments, programme accreditation, quality assurance, monitoring and periodic curriculum reviews.
The Council will also promote stronger partnerships among training institutions, industry, government agencies and communities to ensure that classroom knowledge is supported by practical experience, promising to encourage the integration of digital technologies, innovation, entrepreneurship and applied research into programme delivery.
"Environmental health professionals occupy a strategic position in Nigeria's preventive health system. They are present in emerging markets, schools, healthcare facilities, industries, food establishments, ports, borders and other points of entry.
"Strengthening their education and professional competence will directly contribute to reducing preventable diseases, improving productivity and building healthier and more resilient communities," he added.
EHCON remains committed to facilitating speedy implementation of the curricula, by grooming professionals who are technically competent, ethically responsible, innovative and capable of responding to the evolving needs of society.
The Registrar pledged to continuously discharge its statutory mandates through effective regulation, improved professional standards, institutional collaboration, continuous professional development and the promotion of best practices in environmental and public health.
Specialised Workforce
The National Board for Technical Education ,NBTE, said that Nigeria requires a new cadre of highly skilled and specialised technical manpower to strengthen the environmental health profession.
Director of Curriculum Development Department at NBTE, Dr Oladipupo Bello pointed out that the curriculum is expected to bridge critical skills, shifting the educational focus from theoretical knowledge to practical competency-based education that directly addresses national, public and environmental health challenges.
Bello informed that the achievement would not have been possible without the dedication of many committed health stakeholders, who displayed unwavering partnership, missionary leadership, steadfast financial and technical support throughout the journey.
He specifically appreciated EHCON, academics, industry and seasoned practitioners, and seasoned professionals for lending their expertise toward the success of the project, just as he thanked the internal team of NTC staff and various departments for working tirelessly to coordinate, organise and format the benchmark into world-class standard.
While recognising that education is not static, Bello stated that the rapid evolution of science, technology, public and environmental health required that there must be a constant review and adaptation of the curricula every five years.
"We look forward to another powerful partnership with EHCON in the next five years so that we can review this curriculum we are unveiling today. Furthermore, the success of this program depends heavily on our continued collaboration.
"Moving forward, the joint policy and action mechanism between NTC and EHCON as well as our institutions who will be offering this program is quite non-negotiable.
"We must rigorously monitor implementation, enforce minimum standards and ensure that our biotechnics and technologies possess the necessary abilities, equipment and well-trained personnel to deliver the training effectively," he said.
Steady Growth
Secretary/Registrar of the West Africa Health Examinations Board ,WAHEB, Mrs. Bola Oladejo commended EHCON and NBTE for working assiduously to produce and unveil the curricula, appreciating their contributions toward the steady growth of environmental health.
She assured that the documents will be beneficial to Environmental Health Professionals, EHPs, adding that all the training institutions will use the document to produce relevant professionals that would bolster the profession.
Oladejo was excited that WAHEB contributed to the success of the programme, designed to produce competent-based professionals, appreciating development partners and other relevant stakeholders that contributed to the success of the curricula.
The new curriculum marks a shift from theoretical knowledge to practical, competency-based education, meant to bridge the skills gap in national, public and environmental health across Nigeria.
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