The Community Health Institute (CHI) has achieved a major milestone with the receipt of provisional accreditation from the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN), clearing the way for the institute to officially commence training in community health specialty programmes.
The accreditation, effective from the 2024/2025 academic session and valid through the 2025/2026 academic session, followed a rigorous assessment of CHI’s resources, infrastructure, and compliance with CHPRBN standards for community health training.
Threshold Achievement
In his accreditation letter dated June 30, 2024, Dr. Bashir Idris, CHPRBN Registrar/CEO, congratulated CHI for achieving the threshold required for two-year provisional accreditation.
“The accreditation inspection assessed compliance with CHPRBN standards and best practices in community health training, covering curriculum implementation, faculty qualifications, infrastructure, clinical training opportunities, and student support services,” the letter stated.
Assessment Findings
The CHPRBN inspection team evaluated CHI across multiple critical dimensions:
Curriculum Implementation The inspection found that CHI’s curriculum displays strong alignment with academic standards, with particular commendation for its comprehensive coverage of community health core competencies. CHPRBN recommended expanding practical exposure in maternal health services and emerging community health practices to further strengthen the curriculum.
Faculty Qualifications CHPRBN noted that CHI’s faculty body is predominantly qualified, with appropriate expertise in community health practice and education. The Board advised enhancing expertise in community health pedagogy through targeted professional development initiatives.
Infrastructure Training facilities, including classrooms and laboratories, were found to be generally well-maintained and adequate for the current student population. CHPRBN recommended investment in modern educational technology to enrich the learning environment – a recommendation CHI has since addressed through its Learning Management System launch.
Clinical Training Opportunities The Board acknowledged CHI’s current partnerships with local health facilities offering valuable clinical training. However, to accommodate anticipated student population growth, CHPRBN recommended increasing clinical placements.
“We’ve already begun discussions with additional healthcare facilities across Abuja and surrounding areas to expand our clinical training network,” revealed Dr. Risikat M. Onawola, CHI Director. “By the time we reach our re-evaluation in 2026, we expect to have doubled our clinical placement capacity.”
Student Support Services CHPRBN found that CHI provides essential student support, including academic counseling and welfare services. The Board recommended expansion in career counseling and internship placement services to better prepare students for professional roles.
In response, CHI has established a dedicated Career Development and Placement Unit that will work with healthcare employers across Nigeria to facilitate internships and job placements for graduates.
Recommendations for Continuous Improvement
CHPRBN provided five key recommendations to guide CHI’s development:
- Curriculum Enhancement: Strengthen practical training components by incorporating updated content on contemporary health issues, digital health, and evidence-based community health practices
- Faculty Development: Implement ongoing professional development to enrich teaching practices in community health
- Infrastructure Advancement: Invest in technology and educational resources that support effective teaching and learning
- Expansion of Clinical Partnerships: Secure additional clinical partnerships to enhance practical training opportunities
- Enhanced Student Support Services: Increase resources for career counseling and internship placements
Swift Response to Recommendations
CHI has moved quickly to address CHPRBN’s recommendations. The launch of the state-of-the-art Learning Management System directly responds to the infrastructure and technology enhancement recommendation. The institute has also:
- Initiated faculty training programmes in digital pedagogy and contemporary health practices
- Expanded partnerships with primary healthcare facilities and hospitals
- Established a Career Development and Placement Unit
- Updated curriculum materials to include latest evidence-based practices and digital health content
“We view accreditation not as a destination but as a journey of continuous improvement,” Dr. Onawola emphasized. “CHPRBN’s recommendations provide valuable roadmap for our development, and we’re committed to not just meeting but exceeding these standards.”
What Accreditation Means
The CHPRBN accreditation is crucial for several reasons:
For Students: Ensures their training meets national standards and qualifies them for professional registration with CHPRBN upon graduation
For Employers: Provides assurance that CHI graduates have received quality training and possess necessary competencies
For the Institute: Validates CHI’s educational quality and positions it among recognized community health training institutions in Nigeria
For the Profession: Strengthens overall quality of community health practice through standardized, regulated training
Path to Full Accreditation
The two-year provisional accreditation period serves as a development phase. CHPRBN will conduct routine assessments to monitor CHI’s adherence to accreditation standards and progress in addressing recommendations.
“We’ll have regular check-ins with CHPRBN throughout this period,” explained Mrs. Oluwaseun O. Omoyele, Deputy Director of Academic Planning. “By demonstrating consistent progress and quality, we’re positioning ourselves for full accreditation at our re-evaluation in 2026.”
Full accreditation, typically valid for five years, would provide greater stability and further enhance CHI’s reputation.
CHPRBN’s Confidence
Despite the provisional nature of the accreditation, CHPRBN expressed strong confidence in CHI’s potential.
“The Board is confident that Community Health Institute has significant potential to foster excellence in training community health practitioners,” Dr. Idris wrote in the accreditation letter. “We strongly encourage the institution to address the recommendations to further enhance the quality of the specialty programmes.”
Broader Context
CHI’s accreditation comes at a critical time when Nigeria faces significant shortages of trained community health workers, particularly in rural areas. According to WHO recommendations, Nigeria requires substantial expansion of its community health workforce to achieve universal health coverage.
“Every accredited training institution adds capacity to address Nigeria’s health workforce gaps,” noted a health policy analyst who requested anonymity. “CHI’s accreditation, especially given its focus on specialty training and distance learning, is particularly valuable.”
Student Confidence
The accreditation provides crucial assurance to prospective students that CHI programmes meet professional standards.
“I was considering several institutions for my postgraduate diploma,” shared Blessing Okonkwo, recently admitted to CHI’s Community Nutrition programme. “CHPRBN accreditation was non-negotiable for me. Knowing CHI has met these standards gives me confidence that my investment in education will pay off.”
Quality Assurance Commitment
CHI has established internal quality assurance mechanisms to maintain and exceed CHPRBN standards, including:
- Regular curriculum reviews
- Student feedback systems
- Faculty evaluation processes
- Continuous professional development for staff
- Periodic self-assessments
“Quality is not an accident; it’s a deliberate commitment,” stated Dr. Yohanna Wamanyi, Deputy Director of Research & Development. “We’ve built quality assurance into every aspect of our operations.”
Looking to 2026
With provisional accreditation secured and systematic improvement underway, CHI is optimistic about achieving full accreditation at the 2026 re-evaluation.
“We’re not waiting for 2026 to show progress,” Dr. Onawola affirmed. “We’re implementing improvements now, documenting outcomes, and building a strong case for full accreditation. Our goal is not just to meet standards but to become a model institution for community health training in Nigeria.”
Celebration with Purpose
While celebrating the accreditation milestone, CHI leadership emphasised that the real work is just beginning.
“Accreditation opens the door,” Dr. Onawola concluded. “Now we must prove worthy of the trust CHPRBN has placed in us by delivering exceptional training and producing community health practitioners who transform Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.”
About CHPRBN Accreditation
The Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria is the statutory regulatory body for community health practice in Nigeria, established by Act of Parliament. CHPRBN accreditation is required for institutions offering community health training programmes.
For more information about CHI’s accreditation:
Email: accreditation@chi.edu.ng
Phone: 0805 351 3944
Download accreditation letter: www.chi.edu.ng/accreditation
