Our Ladies of Apostle Secondary School, Yaba and Atlantic High School, Epetedo, emerged the two best in the first and second categories of debates contested among six participating schools during the maiden edition of ‘The Integrated Health, Wellness and Education Conference.”
 
The conference was organised by Global Affairs Magazine under the theme ‘Bridging Health, Wellness and Education for Sustainable National Well-being.’
 
The Convener, Regina Robinson, described the event as a strategic intervention aimed at encouraging more Nigerian students to pursue careers in medicine and other specialised healthcare professions amid the growing wave of brain drain in the sector.
 
“This initiative was conceived in response to the increasing migration of medical practitioners and health professionals abroad due to poor remuneration and unfavourable working conditions in Nigeria.
 
“The conference is deliberately targeted at secondary school students to inspire them to embrace careers in medicine, pharmacy and specialised healthcare fields” she said.

She further noted that many students lacked proper orientation about opportunities in the health sector, stressing that some misconceptions about professions such as pharmacy discouraged young people from venturing into them.
 
She added that as medical professionals continue to leave the country without encouraging younger ones to replace them, Nigeria will eventually suffer serious brain drain.
 
The debates took place at Radison Blue Hotel in Ikeja with the topics, ‘The Future of Healthcare Depends More on Pharmaceutical Innovation Than Clinical Practice – True or False?’ and ‘Health and Wellness Programmes in Schools are Underfunded and Undervalued – True or False?’ respectively.
 
The two winning schools received a trophy each while other participating schools received plaques.
 
Robinson urged government at all levels to support similar initiatives and provide scholarships for students interested in studying Medicine and other health-related courses.
 
Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, who was represented at the event by Mr. Atewologun Titofunmi, said education must prepare students for life and not examinations alone, adding that students must also understand how to manage stress, seek help and make responsible choices.
 
Guest Speaker, Prof. Lere Baale, who is Chief Executive Officer, Business School Netherlands International and President/Chairman, Governing Council, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, said the take home for the secondary school students is for them to know that God has already shaped them to excel in education and health related courses.
 
Also, a Speaker, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dayspring Specialist Hospital, Dr. Samuel Kayode Adebayo, said the essence of the conference was to create a bridge across all healthcare systems, especially for the younger ones.
 
Founder and Chairman, Jawa Group, Chief Varkey Verghese said guidance on health and wellness will help the students to shape their future, their career and acquaint them with all they need to serve their community in future.