A former Director of Sports, University of Ilorin, Prof. Olufunmilola Dominic, has stated that the University would soon begin the study of physical activity and sleep behaviour research, otherwise known as accelerometrics.
Prof. Dominic stated this last Tuesday (March 18, 2025) while speaking at a Workshop jointly organised by the Exercise and Sports Science Research Group (ESSRG) and the Department of Human Kinetics Education, University of Ilorin in collaboration with Coventry University, United Kingdom.
She said that it was high time that the magnitude and qualities of physical activities, sleep patterns and sedentary lifestyles of people are objectively measured as part of efforts towards determining their state of health and to provide comparative African data and norms.
Prof. Dominic explained that this is the first time this type of training is organised in Nigeria as she expressed happiness that the University provided the platforms needed to organise the research training within the institution.
The renowned sports scientist, who is the Group Leader of the ESSRG, thanked the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, for his support for the programme.
Stressing that the training would be established at the University of Ilorin with the assistance of the University of Coventry, England, Prof. Dominic said that everything would be done between the two universities to concretise the collaboration.
The don, who teaches at the Department of Human Kinetics Education, also thanked Dr Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu of the University of The West England who linked the University of Ilorin with Coventry University, and the Resource Person, Dr Nduka Okwosu thereby promoting UK research collaborations with the University among others. She also appreciated the Director of the Centre for International Education (CIE), Prof. Lateef Onireti Ibraheem, for his role in the MOUs processes.
In his address, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, Prof. Lasiele Alabi Yahaya, appreciated the University Administration, the Organising Committee of the training and the facilitator for their various efforts.
He encouraged the Resource Person, Dr Nduka Okwosu of Coventry University to go beyond the academic training he provided by ensuring other forms of empowerment for interested individuals and groups such as admission, provision of equipment and other relevant opportunities for exchange programmes.
In his presentation, Dr Okwosu, said that every physical activity must be restricted at every stage of life based on the health status of the individual, especially in relation to cardio metabolic diseases and heart attack cormobidies, hence researches in such vulnerable groups’ interventions should include not only physical activity experts, but also their physicians and psychologists for proper monitoring.
Dr Okwosu explained that this is not an age of withdrawing from exercise but that of involvement in physical activities and exercises to improve the health of the patients/participants.
He added that efforts must also be made to minimise the level and quantity of cholesterol in our body systems through programmed exercise.
Dr Okwosu emphasised the challenges from lack of experts’ collaborative treatment to lack of motivation, ‘Japa’ syndrome of experts, and non-availability of professional exercise prescriptions, among others.
He warned young people against unbridled pursuit of greener pasture, saying that if they stay in Nigeria they can still make it as they would also be contributing their quotas to national progress.
Dr Okwosu appreciated the University Management and everyone for the mutual contributions and future-elaborate MOUs.
Also speaking, the Ag. Head of the Department of Human Kinetics Education, Dr Memunat Ajadi, thanked the University Administration and everyone who made the workshop a huge success.
Participants at the training session included academic staff and other professionals from various departments of the Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin and sister universities within and outside Kwara State.
