The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, has raised concerns over the rising incidence of mental health challenges among students across Nigerian universities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Committee of Directors of Health Services in Nigerian Universities (CODHESNU) conference, themed “University Health Service: Past, Present, and Future”, Professor Adebowale noted that the growing mental health burden underscores the urgent need for university health services to move beyond basic curative care. He advocated for a comprehensive approach that integrates specialised treatments, preventive interventions, and promotive health initiatives.
He observed that the environment in which university health services now operate is far more complex than when they were originally established to deliver primary healthcare to students and staff. Among the critical challenges he highlighted are exponential increases in student and staff populations, evolving healthcare needs, chronic underfunding, lack of technological integration, and rising expectations for quality care.
“If you consider the rate at which mental health issues are emerging among students, you will be genuinely alarmed. I believe this trend cuts across all universities in the country,” he stated.
Professor Adebowale called for increased investment in purpose-built, fully equipped health facilities aligned with modern healthcare standards. He stressed the need for universities to prioritise the recruitment and retention of highly skilled healthcare professionals, alongside the promotion of proactive wellness programmes and student-focused care.
In his address, Dr Leku Ador, Chairman of CODHESNU, underscored the pressing need for indemnity insurance for university health facilities and their staff, citing the rising trend of litigation within the sector. He also pointed to the underfunding of the Federal Government’s health insurance scheme as a critical gap hampering effective healthcare delivery in universities.
Furthermore, Dr Ador advocated for the enforcement of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) to guarantee structured career progression for doctors in Nigerian universities. He called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to extend its regulatory oversight to include the infrastructure of university health service departments.
Representing the Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, at the event, Dr Akintunde Akande stressed the importance of enforcing national policies that set minimum health standards for university health centres. He urged all stakeholders to play their part in ensuring these centres reach their full potential.
“The health of our university communities transcends welfare — it is integral to national development. A healthy academic environment fuels productivity, innovation, and progress. We must be resolute in our commitment to ensuring that every student, lecturer, and university staff member has access to the quality healthcare they rightly deserve,” Dr Akande stated.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Salihu Musa, former Director of University Health Services at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, charged CODHESNU members to be deliberate in building health systems that support learning, growth, and productivity.
“Our vision must be centred on delivering top-quality health services that not only serve the university community but also instil confidence in institutional leaders to personally patronise these facilities,” he remarked.
