UNIZIK Associate Professor Represents Nigeria as Technical Presenter at WHO/TDR Governing Board Meeting in Geneva
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has recorded another significant international milestone as Dr. Ogechukwu Aribodor, an Associate Professor in the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biosciences, represented Nigeria as a Technical Presenter at the 2026 Joint Coordinating Board Meeting of the World Health Organization’s Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), held in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 17 to 18, 2026.
Dr. Aribodor was invited by WHO/TDR in recognition of her expertise and leadership in social innovation for health. At the high-level meeting, she represented the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) Nigeria Hub, where she serves as Programme Manager.
During her presentation, she highlighted how community-driven health innovations can be identified, strengthened and scaled through research, evidence generation, capacity building and strategic partnerships to improve health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.
The WHO/TDR Joint Coordinating Board serves as the programme’s governing body, bringing together global health leaders, researchers, donors and development partners to provide strategic direction for research and capacity strengthening aimed at tackling infectious diseases of poverty and promoting health equity worldwide.
Dr. Aribodor’s participation provided a valuable platform to showcase the contributions of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, the SIHI Nigeria Hub and Nigeria to global health research, social innovation and the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage.
She expressed gratitude to the World Health Organisation, TDR and all partner organisations for the opportunity to contribute to global conversations on advancing equitable healthcare and improving health outcomes for underserved communities.
The invitation further underscores Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s growing reputation as a centre of research excellence, with its scholars making impactful contributions to international scientific discourse and global health development.