The Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, has hosted the 8th International Conference of the Nigerian Association of Social and Educational Research (NASRED), with the theme, “Religion, Education and Health Challenges in the Contemporary Society.”
The conference,which also doubles as the 39th National conference of the Association was organised in collaboration with the University’s Department of Religious Studies.
It brought together scholars, researchers, academics and other stakeholders from Nigeria and beyond to examine contemporary challenges in Religion, Education, Health and explored practical approaches to addressing them.
Declaring the Conference open on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Oladipo, MNPA, CMCPN, MCAN, FIELPN, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Adekunle Adeogun, FISN, welcomed delegates to TASFUED and expressed the University’s pleasure at hosting the prestigious academic gathering.
Prof. Adeogun, a Professor of Health Education and Promotion, also delivered the keynote address titled, “Religion, Education and Health Challenges in Contemporary Society: Pathways to Holistic Well-being”.
He emphasised the interconnected nature of the challenges confronting Religion, Education and Health, noting that addressing them requires sustained research, interdisciplinary collaboration and practical interventions.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor stressed the need for research to move beyond academic publications and contribute meaningfully to solving real-world challenges through innovation, entrepreneurship, community engagement, policy development and sustainable development initiatives.
He urged participants to maximise the conference’s technical sessions, keynote presentations and workshops to exchange ideas, challenge existing assumptions and develop practical solutions to the challenges highlighted by the theme.
Prof. Adeogun also encouraged researchers to embrace multidisciplinary approaches and urged young researchers and Postgraduate students to use the conference as an avenue to present their work, receive mentorship and build professional networks that would enhance their academic and career development.
In his address, the President of NASRED, Prof. Taofiki Salako, appreciated the Vice-Chancellor, the University Management, staff and other stakeholders for providing the enabling environment for the conference.
Prof. Salako, who is also the Director, Institute of Distance learning described the 2026 Conference as a significant milestone in the Association’s efforts to modernise its activities, particularly through the digitalisation of conference operations and scholarly resources.
He disclosed that the Association has adopted a digital Book of Abstracts and expanded its online journal publications, making conference programmes, proceedings and other scholarly materials more accessible to researchers while reducing the cost associated with printing.
The NASRED President also highlighted the growing international profile of the Association’s conferences and its journal, Religions’ Educator, noting that the publication had evolved into an internationally accessible scholarly platform with its articles available online and indexed on Google Scholar.
The conference featured scholarly and lead paper presentations by distinguished academics from Nigeria and abroad.
Among the lead speakers was Prof. Hakeem Akanni of the Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, who spoke on “Islam, Education and Health Challenges in the Contemporary Society.”
Prof. Samuel Okanlawon of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, presented a paper on “Christianity, Education and Health Challenges in the Contemporary Society,” while Prof. David Amore, a Professor of History of Religions, I.C.G. D’Annunzio, Motta Sant’Anastasia, CT, Italy, delivered an international lead paper titled “Medieval Islamic Medical Science and its Impact in Developing Europe.”
The conference also featured technical sessions, workshops and networking activities designed to promote knowledge exchange and strengthen collaboration among researchers across disciplines.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Salako commended the editorial board, paper reviewers, executive members, Local Organising Committee, conference secretariat, sponsors, volunteers and other stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the conference.
The conference was attended by the Ag. Dean, College of Humanities, Prof. Olaitan Mabekoje; the Ag. Head, Department of Religious Studies, Dr Kayode Olusanya; and other academic and administrative dignitaries.
