It was an afternoon of insights, celebration, and inspiration at the J.F. Ade-Ajayi (Main) Auditorium, on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, as Professor Mercy Adaku Chigemezu Onwuama of the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Lagos, delivered her Inaugural Lecture titled “Breaking Barriers in Disease Prevention: Health Education, A Lifeline.” It was the 488th in the university series and the second of the 2025/2026 Academic Session.
In a lecture that drew family, friends, colleagues, and dignitaries, including her aged mother and a former Minister of Information and Culture, Chief Walter Ofonagoro, and his wife, Professor Onwuama illuminated the indispensable role of health education in building a healthier and more informed society.
She described health education as “a set of philosophies and methodologies that educate individuals and communities on health issues to enable them make positive decisions about their personal health.” She explored its many dimensions: as a discipline and profession, as education for students and professionals, as a driver of behavioural change, and as a tool for advocacy and community empowerment.
According to her, effective health education is anchored on the principles of participation, comprehensibility, credibility, reinforcement, and community involvement, all geared towards fostering healthier lifestyles and reducing the national disease burden. She emphasised that health education enhances health literacy, empowers citizens to make informed choices, and contributes to sustainable development in Nigeria.
Professor Onwuama drew attention to the “voiceless” groups who often lack access to health education and care: underserved populations in rural areas, urban slums, women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. She identified key barriers to effective disease prevention in these communities, including obsolete health education policies, limited funding, cultural and linguistic barriers, and infrastructural inadequacies.
To address these challenges, she called for greater collaboration among health educators, other disciplines, and non-governmental organisations. She also recommended a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s health education curriculum and national health policy to reflect current realities and needs.
Highlighting her own scholarly contributions, Professor Onwuama referenced her extensive research on school health programmes in Lagos State, sexuality education, intestinal worm infestation, school feeding in public and private schools, and emergency preparedness. She called for the introduction of Sexuality Education to the curriculum so that “we can empower students with protection and refusal skills to manage compromising situations without offending anyone.”
In her concluding remarks, the Inaugural Lecturer reaffirmed that health education remains a fundamental strategy for improving health outcomes nationwide. She advocated for its delivery through schools, homes, communities, healthcare facilities, media, and NGOs. She also made a passionate case for the professionalisation of health education, the establishment of a stand-alone Department of Health Education within the Faculty of Education, and the creation of a Health Education Laboratory to strengthen research and practice in the field.
At the conclusion of her presentation, and as the audience rose in applause, it was evident that Professor Onwuama’s message resonated deeply: a call to renewed commitment to health education as a lifeline for individuals, families, and the nation at large.
About Professor Mercy Adaku Chigemezu Onwuama
Professor Mercy Adaku Chigemezu Onwuama is a distinguished scholar and educator whose life and career embody a deep passion for health education, safety promotion, and community well-being. Born on May 15, 1956, in Lagos, she hails from Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State. Her formative years laid the foundation for a lifelong devotion to learning, service, and human development.
Her educational journey reflects a remarkable pursuit of knowledge across diverse institutions and disciplines. She attended Girls’ Secondary School, Umungasi Aba, Abia State (1971–1975), before proceeding to the University of Lagos, where she obtained her B.Sc. (1991) and M.Ed. (1995) degrees in Health Education. She later earned her PhD in Health Education from the University of Ibadan in 2003.
Not content with academic laurels alone, Professor Onwuama expanded her professional competence through further studies at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, where she obtained a Teacher Training Diploma in Nursing Education (2002). She also earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (2021) and a Bachelor of Nursing Science (2024) from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. Her commitment to continuous learning underscores her philosophy that education is a lifelong responsibility.
Professor Onwuama’s academic and professional life has been anchored at the University of Lagos, where she serves as Professor in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education. There, she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses, conducts impactful research, and contributes significantly to community service. Her area of specialization, Health Education, particularly Safety Education and Disease Prevention, has guided her extensive research and outreach efforts.
A registered nurse and midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Professor Onwuama is also a certified member of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). She has published over sixty (60) scholarly papers in reputable journals and books, contributing richly to the body of knowledge in health education and preventive care.
Within and beyond the University of Lagos, she has served in various leadership and service capacities. She chaired the Faculty of Education Lecture Series 2025 Local Organizing Committee and was a member of the NUGA Medical Team during the 26th Nigerian Universities Games, where she trained staff and volunteers in safety, first aid, and sports’ injury management.
She has served as External Examiner to leading Nigerian universities including the University of Ibadan, University of Benin, and Tai Solarin University of Education, and has been part of several funded research projects, both national and international. Notably, she was a team member on grants supported by Swansea University’s GCRF initiative and International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance (ICHPERSD). Her research collaborations have explored critical health issues such as school feeding programmes and intestinal worm infestations among children—studies that have informed policies and improved health outcomes.
Outside academia, she has contributed to the health sector as Chairman, Board of the College of Nursing and Joint Hospital, Amaigbo, Imo State (2016–2024). She is also a licensed Diocesan Reader in the Anglican Communion, Lagos Diocese, a reflection of her enduring faith and devotion to service.
Professor Mercy Onwuama is married and blessed with five children.
Report: Isaiah Kumuyi
Photography: Joshua Michael
