Dr. Nkiruka Obande-Ogbuinya
Director, Centre for Advancement and Strategic Contacts
Dr. Nkiruka Edith Obande-Ogbuinya is a distinguished academic, researcher, administrator, and public health scholar whose career spans over fifteen years of impactful service in higher education. She is a Reader in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, where she has consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, mentorship, and university administration.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree (Second Class Upper Division) in Health Education from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, followed by a Master of Education and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Health Education from Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. Her academic training has provided a strong foundation for an outstanding career dedicated to advancing health education, public health promotion, and educational development.
As an academic leader, Dr. Edith has held several strategic administrative positions, including Acting Head and subsequently substantive Head of the Department of Physical and Health Education, She has chaired numerous high-level university committees, including the Faculty Research and Publications Committee, Local Organising Committees for Faculty Conferences, the Faculty Business Centre Committee, AEFUNAI ASUU Health Week and Sports Fiesta Committee and currently acting director, Centre for Advancement and Strategic Contacts. Her leadership is characterised by innovation, teamwork, accountability, and institutional development.
Her research interests encompass School Health Education, Public Health, Health Promotion, Mental Health, Adolescent and Reproductive Health, Community Health, Environmental Health, and Health Behaviour. She has made significant scholarly contributions through more than fifty-five peer-reviewed publications in highly reputable international and national journals indexed by Clarivate Analytics, Scopus, Elsevier, PubMed, SAGE, BMC, JMIR, Scientific African, and other leading databases. Her research continues to inform policy, improve health outcomes, and strengthen evidence-based practice in health education.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Edith has actively translated research into community impact through health education interventions on hygiene promotion, sanitation, blood pressure awareness, school health, and adolescent health programmes across Ebonyi State. She has also contributed to national educational development as a course writer for the National Open University of Nigeria and serves as an External Examiner for tertiary institutions.
A respected member of several professional organisations, she is affiliated with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Nigeria Association of Health Educators (NAHE), Society for Public Health Professionals of Nigeria (SPHPN), Society for Public Health Educators (SOPHE), Health Promotion Research Association of Nigeria (HEPRAN), and is a Fellow of the Association of Educational Management and Policy Practitioners (A’EMAPP).
Dr. Edith has presented scholarly papers at numerous national and international conferences and has participated in research collaborations that address emerging public health and educational challenges. Her commitment to academic excellence, research innovation, institutional leadership, and community service has earned her recognition as one of the leading scholars in Public Health Education in Nigeria.
She remains passionate about mentoring young academics, advancing interdisciplinary research, strengthening university-community partnerships, and promoting healthy lifestyles through evidence-based education and policy advocacy.
