Samson Popoola, Provost of the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, visited Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) July 17 - 24 to explore opportunities for renewed partnership and support. His primary goal: to strengthen healthcare education and expand training programs that meet Nigeria’s growing needs, particularly in rural communities.
The College of Health Sciences and Technology was recently established at the Seventh-day Adventist Hospital in Ile-Ife. Originally founded in the 1940s by Seventh-day Adventist missionaries, the hospital has since expanded its services significantly. The college, now government-accredited, offers certificate programs in medical laboratory science, pharmacy technology, health information management, and community health work. More than 350 students are currently enrolled, training to serve both urban and rural populations.
During his visit, Mr. Popoola emphasized the importance of partnership in meeting the college’s growing demands. “As the college expands, we need support to build more classrooms and dormitories and to modernize our infrastructure,” he explained. “We’re not only educating students—we’re preparing them to be a lasting presence in communities where healthcare services are limited.”
Mr. Popoola’s relationship with Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) and Adventist Health International (AHI) stretches back more than two decades, beginning during his time as Director of Nursing Services at the Seventh-day Adventist Hospital in Ile-Ife. Through collaboration and exchange, LLUH has provided technical support, medical equipment, and personnel. Notably, LLUH funding helped host a national conference for Adventist nurses in Nigeria, with LLUH faculty and senior nursing staff traveling to facilitate the event. “That experience created momentum and renewed professional pride,” he said. “It reminded us of what shared mission looks like.”
“Whether we are in America, Africa, or Asia,” Mr. Popoola shared, “what binds us together is the mission of the Church—to serve, to educate, and to evangelize through healthcare.”
Looking ahead, Mr. Popoola hopes to re-establish regular exchange visits, increase opportunities for faculty training, and invite greater LLUH involvement in the College of Health Sciences and Technology.