BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
L-R: Former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Philibus Wabba; Conservator General of National Park Service, NPS, Dr Ibrahim Musa Goni; Registrar of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, EHCON, Dr Yakubu Mohammed Baba and others at the official unveiling of 14 new curricula for Environmental Health and Public Health Programmes in Nigerian Polytechnics and Monotechnics in Abuja recently.
The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria requires the services of highly-trained professionals to end environmental pollution, poor sanitation, unsafe food, climate change, inadequate waste management and outbreaks of environmentally related diseases, underscoring the need for professionals to apply scientific knowledge, modern technology and practical skills to protect the health of Nigerians.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal stated this in an interview with News Rider on the sidelines of the launching of 14 new curricula for Environmental Health and Public Health Programmes in Nigerian Polytechnics and Monotechnics over the weekend in Abuja.
Lawal, who was represented by the Conservator-General of National Park Service, NPS, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni stated that environmental health remains one of the essential foundations of public health, adding that: "The quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we consume, the manner in which we manage waste, and the condition of our homes, workplaces and communities have direct consequences for human health and national productivity.
He praised the Registrar of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, EHCON, Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Baba for initiating and sustaining the process that led to the development of the curricula, adding that his commitment to modernising environmental health education, strengthening professional practice and expanding opportunities for specialisation is highly commendable.
Lawal appreciated the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, and his dedicated team for their technical guidance, cooperation and sustained support to the Council throughout the development and approval of the curricula.
He commended the academics, practitioners, development partners and other stakeholders for combining their expertise to ensure that the documents are relevant, competency-based, responsive to industry needs and consistent with contemporary national and international standards.
The curricula provide a valuable opportunity to improve the quality of teaching. practical instruction, research and innovation in environmental and public health education.
Lawal enjoined educational and training institutions to utilise the curricula effectively as the new benchmarks clearly defined the knowledge, skills, competencies and techniques required to produce highly skilled manpower for the sector.
He encouraged institutions to provide qualified teaching personnel, functional laboratories, appropriate equipment, adequate field-training opportunities and a supportive learning environment, while pleading with EHCON, NBTE and other participating institutions, to develop and implement a comprehensive capacity-building programme for lecturers, instructors, assessors and programme coordinators.
"This will promote a common understanding of the curricula and ensure consistency in their delivery across the country. As discussions continue on the framework for implementation, particular attention should be given to institutional readiness, quality assurance, accreditation, practical training, continuous curriculum review, industry participation, research and the application of emerging technologies.
"The implementation process should also establish effective mechanisms for monitoring outcomes and addressing identified gaps. These curricula must not be regarded merely as academic documents. They are instruments for workforce development, professional transformation and national progress. Their ultimate value will be measured by the quality of graduates they produce and by the practical improvements recorded in sanitation, food safety, pollution control, climate resilience, disease prevention and community wellbeing," he added.
Lawal promised continuous support to EHCON in the effective discharge of its statutory mandate, pledging to promote policies and partnerships that strengthen environmental health regulation, professional development and the protection of public health throughout the Federation.
He called on the State and Local Governments, educational institutions, organised private-sector operators, development partners and professional bodies to support the implementation of the curricula, adding that investment in environmental health education is an investment in disease prevention, human dignity, economic productivity and the sustainable future of our nation.
The Minister renewed its commitment to building a competent, innovative and responsive environmental health workforce capable of protecting present and future generations, hoping that the initiative contributes significantly to the advancement of environmental health practice, while strengthening public health and the improvement of the quality of life of all Nigerians.
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