In a significant development for community health education in Nigeria, the Community Health Institute (CHI) has formalized a strategic academic partnership with Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), one of Nigeria’s premier institutions of higher learning. The collaboration will enable CHI to offer fully accredited postgraduate diploma programmes with certificates awarded by NSUK.
Combining Expertise for Excellence
The partnership represents a powerful synergy between CHI’s specialized expertise in community health training and NSUK’s established academic reputation and institutional infrastructure. Students enrolled in CHI’s nine postgraduate diploma specialties will receive their certificates from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, ensuring nationally recognized qualifications that meet the highest educational standards.
“This partnership is a win-win for both institutions and, most importantly, for our students,” said Dr. Risikat M. Onawola, Director of CHI. “It combines CHI’s focused, practical-oriented community health training with NSUK’s academic rigor and credibility. Our graduates will have the best of both worlds.”
Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance
Under the partnership agreement, NSUK provides academic accreditation, degree awards, and faculty support for CHI’s postgraduate programmes. This ensures that all programmes meet university-level academic standards while maintaining CHI’s specialized focus on community health practice.
Professor [NSUK Vice Chancellor’s Name], Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “Nasarawa State University is committed to expanding access to quality education across Nigeria. Our partnership with CHI allows us to contribute to the development of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce while extending our academic reach.”
Enhanced Graduate Prospects
The partnership significantly enhances employment and career advancement prospects for CHI graduates. Employers across Nigeria’s healthcare sector recognize and value NSUK credentials, opening doors to opportunities in government health departments, international NGOs, hospitals, primary healthcare facilities, and private practice.
“Having an NSUK certificate adds tremendous value to our graduates’ credentials,” explained Mrs. Oluwaseun O. Omoyele, Deputy Director of Academic Planning at CHI. “It demonstrates that their training meets not just professional standards but also rigorous academic standards recognized across Nigeria’s education and health sectors.”
Programmes Covered
The partnership covers all nine of CHI’s postgraduate diploma specialties:
- Community Eye Care
- Community Ear, Nose, and Throat
- Community Immunology
- Community Mental Health
- Community Child Health and IMCI
- Community Nutrition and Dietetics
- Community Reproductive, Maternal, and Newborn Health
- Community Epidemiology and Disease Control
- Community Disaster and Humanitarian Emergencies
Dual Advantages for Students
Students benefit from CHI’s specialized facilities designed specifically for community health training – including well-equipped laboratories, clinical training sites, and community engagement platforms – while receiving academic oversight and quality assurance from NSUK’s established university systems.
The partnership also facilitates potential pathways for CHI graduates to pursue further studies at NSUK, including master’s and doctoral programmes, creating a seamless progression for those seeking advanced academic qualifications.
CHPRBN Accreditation Maintained
Importantly, all programmes remain fully accredited by the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN), ensuring graduates meet professional regulatory requirements for registration and practice as community health practitioners.
Dr. Bashir Idris, Registrar/CEO of CHPRBN, noted: “This partnership strengthens the academic foundation of community health education in Nigeria while maintaining the professional standards that CHPRBN upholds. It’s exactly the kind of collaboration we need to elevate the profession.”
Model for Future Collaborations
Education sector observers view the CHI-NSUK partnership as a model for how specialized professional training institutes can collaborate with established universities to deliver both professional and academic excellence.
“This is innovative thinking,” commented [Education Policy Expert Name], an education policy analyst. “Rather than trying to become a full university, CHI has strategically partnered with an established institution. This allows them to focus on what they do best – specialized community health training – while ensuring academic credibility.”
Admission Process
Prospective students applying to CHI’s postgraduate programmes will follow CHI’s admission process but will be enrolled as NSUK students for academic purposes. Upon successful completion of their programmes, they will participate in NSUK’s convocation ceremonies to receive their certificates.
Looking Forward
Both institutions have expressed commitment to deepening the partnership, with possibilities for collaborative research, faculty exchange, and potential expansion to additional programme levels in the future.
“This is just the beginning,” Dr. Onawola stated. “We envision a long-term partnership that will continue to evolve and strengthen, ultimately benefiting Nigeria’s healthcare system through the production of excellently trained community health practitioners.”
Applications Open
Applications for the 2024/2025 academic session are now open. Prospective students can apply through CHI’s website at www.chi.edu.ng or visit the campus at Plot 379 EFAB Estate Road, Life Camp, Jabi District, Abuja.
About the Partnership
The CHI-NSUK partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by representatives of both institutions and CHPRBN, outlining the terms of collaboration, quality assurance mechanisms, and mutual responsibilities.
For more information:
CHI: info@chi.edu.ng | 0805 351 3944
NSUK: [Contact information]
