About the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Research and Training

Bayero University, Kano:

• The Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Research and Training (COHERAT) was established by Bayero University, Kano (BUK), in December 2023 as a dedicated hub for advancing excellence in occupational and environmental health research and training. The Centre is strategically situated within the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) campus of BUK, forming an integral part of the College of Health Sciences ecosystem and enabling strong linkages between research, training, and practice. COHERAT was conceived as a multidisciplinary and globally engaged platform to address the escalating occupational and environmental health challenges associated with rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, climate change, and evolving patterns of work. While grounded in the Nigeria and sub-Saharan African region, the Centre adopts an international outlook, generating knowledge, building capacity, and informing policies that align with global health priorities and international best practices. . 

• Mandate of the Centre:

  COHERAT’s mandate is to generate high-quality evidence and deliver innovative training that supports evidence-informed policy formulation, promotes safe and healthy workplaces, and strengthens the prevention and control of occupational and environmental hazards. In pursuit of this mandate, the Centre is responsible for:

  1. Providing thoughtful leadership in occupational and environmental health research with relevance at national, regional, and global levels.

  2. Supporting undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, professional training, and capacity development in occupational and environmental health at BUK and in collaboration with partner institutions worldwide.

  3. Serving as a technical and policy advisory resource to governments, regulatory bodies, and the private sector on occupational and environmental health issues.

  4. Developing and deploying advocacy tools and knowledge translation products that promote safe, healthy, and inclusive workplaces in line with Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

  5. Offering specialised technical and consultancy services to both formal and informal sectors across diverse occupational settings.

  6. Strengthening occupational health and clinical services through implementation research, laboratory partnerships, and community and workplace outreach.

  7. Fostering strategic collaborations with government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), the World Health Organization (WHO), development partners, academic institutions, and research networks in Nigeria, Africa, and globally.

• Key Achievements to Date:

  1. Development of a Strategic Research Agenda COHERAT has developed a comprehensive and forward-looking research agenda focused on innovative, interdisciplinary, and policy-relevant studies in occupational and environmental health, workplace safety, and hazard prevention and control, aligned with national priorities and global health frameworks.

  2. Grant Applications and Research Partnerships In collaboration with the Directorate of Research, Innovation, and Partnerships (DRIP), the Centre has successfully developed and submitted nine (9) competitive grant applications to national and international funding bodies, two (2) of which are currently under implementation.
  3. Academic and Professional Programme Development Working with leading experts within and outside Bayero University, Kano, and in partnership with Flexisaf Edusoft Ltd, an established educational technology provider supporting over 100 tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the Centre is developing transdisciplinary postgraduate programmes, including a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) and short-term Certificate Programmes in Occupational and Environmental Health. These programmes are designed to meet international competency standards and respond to the evolving needs of the global workforce.