~ assures of commencement of its Certificate Programme.
The Ag Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Carol Chinyelugo Arinze-Umobi, received the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) Nigeria Hub Team led by Emerita Prof Obioma Nwaogu, FAS.
The team head of SIHI of Uganda Hub and Coordinator of Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda SIHI hubs under the aegis of the World Health Organization. Dr. Awor Phyllis also concluded engagements at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka on Tuesday, August 5th, 2025.
According to the team head, SIHI Nigeria Hub, Emerita Professor Obioma Nwaogu, FAS SIHI Nigeria Hub Unizik came into existence in 2020 through a grant from WHO/TDR and mentorship galvanised by Dr Phyllis Awor, the SIHI Uganda Hub Team lead under the Global SIHI network.
This was supported by the WHO special programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR). She further informed the Ag Vice-Chancellor that they have remained functional within the University, thus contributing significantly to social innovation research, capacity building, identification of health-related innovation and community impact.
Emerita Prof Nwaogu informed the Ag. Vice-Chancellor that the coming of Dr Awor was to find out how far they have driven the programme, the challenges and the way forward.
In her speech, the visiting team head of Uganda SIHI Hub, Dr Phyllis thanked the Ag Vice-Chancellor for her support.
She said that SIHI has remained in support of the improvement of healthcare services, offering support for social innovations anchored on research which brings credibility that guides the policy makers.
She summed up the programme of Social innovation as identification of health-related innovations, research and roles of the policy makers vis-à-vis capacity building.
Presenting their consent note earlier to the Ag Vice-Chancellor, Prof Nwaogu FAS thanked the Ag Vice-Chancellor for the enabling environment granted the visitor, Dr Phyllis on her engagement at the University.
The consent note offered an insight into their background, core values, activities and partnership. She further stated that their program is aimed at enforcing the image of the University as a rising institution of intellect. Again, Prof Nwaogu implored the Ag Vice-Chancellor to amongst all other requests approve the commencement of its proposed 6-month certificate course to be housed at the University Business School.
The team head of SIHI Uganda Hub, Dr Awor in her brief remarks thanked the Ag Vice-Chancellor for the warm hospitality offered her by the University.
She promised to take back the good news of the successes of the project at Unizik to her institution.
She said the success is impressive. While requesting the Ag Vice-Chancellor’s optimum assistance to the project, she praised the spirit of partnership.
Prof Pius Okoye, Director of Unizik Business School and a Council Member of the University in his speech assured the visitor that the University is well disposed to partner with her, especially in the mounting of the certificate programme.
The Ag Vice-Chancellor, in her response, expressed joy at the warmest remarks made by Dr Phyllis. She noted that the visit was like a homecoming.
Prof Arinze-Umobi assured Dr Awor that the University is ever ready to join in the partnership to build a sustainable future in that regard. She minced no words in restating the success of the programme as it is presented to the University curriculum committee.
Other members of the Unizik SIHI team include: Prof. Stella Chinyere Okunna (currently DVC, Paul University, Awka), Prof Chinyere Ekwunife, Department of Parasitology, Assoc. Prof. Ukamaka Onubogu, and Dr. Oge Aribodor, project manager.
