Adeboye identifies adequate sleep as critical to health, productivity
By Mustafa Abubakar
The Head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health,University of Ilorin, Prof. Muhammed A. N. Adeboye. has emphasised the importance of adequate sleep as a fundamental requirement for healthy living, improved learning, productivity, and overall well-being.
Speaking with UNILORIN Bulletin last Thursday(July 2, 2026) in his office, Prof. Adeboye noted that in today’s fast-paced University environment, students, lecturers, researchers, and administrative staff often sacrifice sleep in an attempt to meet academic, professional, and social demands, warning that persistent sleep deprivation can have serious consequences on both physical and mental health.
According to him, while staying up late may sometimes seem necessary, consistently inadequate sleep can negatively affect health, academic performance, workplace productivity, and general well-being.
Prof. Adeboye explained that sleep is not merely a period of rest but an essential biological process during which the body and brain recover, repair, and prepare for the next day’s activities.
He added that just as proper nutrition and regular physical activity are necessary for good health, adequate sleep remains equally important.
Speaking further on the importance of sleep, Prof. Adeboye explained that during sleep, the brain consolidates learning and memory, helping individuals retain information acquired during lectures, study sessions, meetings, and research activities.
He said sleep also strengthens the immune system, enabling the body to better fight infections, while balancing hormones responsible for growth, metabolism, appetite, and stress regulation.
According to him, sleep allows muscles and body tissues to undergo repair and recovery while supporting emotional processing that helps individuals manage stress and maintain psychological well-being.
Prof. Adeboye disclosed that research findings consistently show that people who obtain adequate sleep perform better cognitively, make fewer errors, and enjoy better physical and mental health.
Highlighting the benefits of adequate sleep, he stated that it significantly improves learning and academic performance by enhancing attention span, concentration, problem-solving ability, and memory retention.
Students who sleep well, he noted, are generally more likely to perform better in examinations and practical assessments than those who routinely stay awake late into the night.
On mental health, Prof. Adeboye explained that sleep plays a major role in reducing irritability, anxiety, and stress while improving mood and resilience, adding that chronic sleep deprivation has been associated with increased risk of depression and burnout.
He also noted that people who get sufficient sleep are generally less susceptible to common infections such as cold and flu because sleep supports the production and activity of immune cells that protect the body against disease.
The medical expert added that adequate sleep enhances productivity and performance in classrooms, laboratories, clinics, and offices by improving alertness, creativity, decision-making, and efficiency while reducing errors associated with fatigue.
