A don, Professor Solomon Adewoye of the Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso has stressed need for more Environmental Health Professionals to tackle emerging global environmental and health challenges

He made the call while delivering the lecture at the second induction ceremony of Environmental Health graduates of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, where 11 new professionals were formally admitted into the field. One of them graduated with First-Class Honours — the first in the department’s history.

The Hope reports that nine professionals were inducted during the maiden ceremony in 2024, and the increase to 11 this year reflects the growing popularity of the programme, not only at UNIMED but across Nigeria.

Speaking on the theme, “Environmental Health in the 21st Century: Emerging Trends and Paradigm Shifts,” Prof. Adewoye said the environmental health profession has become even more critical in modern times due to the scale of challenges confronting the world.

According to him, “The 21st century has brought forth new paradigms that reshape our understanding and application of environmental health. The emerging challenges mirror a world in which human activities are closely linked with environmental systems.”

He listed major global issues including climate change, rapid urbanisation, population growth, technological innovations, microplastics, endocrine disruptors, and persistent organic pollutants, stressing that these underscore the increasing need for skilled Environmental Health Professionals.

Prof. Adewoye urged the new inductees to see their certificates not just as licences to earn a living, but as mandates to make a meaningful difference in the world. “This induction marks not just the completion of your academic journey but the beginning of countless possibilities in Environmental Health,” he said. “It is a call to service and an opportunity to create lasting impact and legacy in the health sector.”

Representing the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ebunoluwa Adejuiyigbe, Professor Abdulazeez Abubakar charged the inductees to uphold the values of excellence and integrity that UNIMED is known for. He advised them to remain focused, dedicated, and resilient as they apply their skills in real-world contexts.

In his address, the Dean of the School of Public Health, Professor Olorunfemi Amoran, congratulated the inductees for their perseverance and success, noting that their journey, though challenging, ended fruitfully through the support of the university’s management.

The ceremony also celebrated Sanitarian Onilude Victoria Tinuade, who made history as the first student in the department to graduate with First-Class Honours.