
Government Comprehensive Secondary School (GCSS), Borikiri, Port Harcourt, has announced that Professor Vincent Idemyor, a distinguished alumnus, will deliver its inaugural legacy lecture on 25 January, 2025. According to a statement provided to the press, the event will be held on the school premises, with the theme centred on “Bridging Health and Education: Pathways to Sustainable Development in a Changing Climate.”
Idemyor, a globally celebrated clinical pharmacologist and infectious disease scientist, is known for his significant contributions to medicine and education. Currently a Distinguished Visiting Scholar and Professor at the University of Port Harcourt, his career achievements include the 2001 Research and Publications Achievement Award, the 2003 Illinois Department of Public Health “Red Ribbon Award,” the 2004 City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations Outstanding Achievement Award, the 2007 Medical Award of the Year from the National Technical Association, and the prestigious 2023 Donald E. Francke Medal from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
Founded in 1962, GCSS has a storied history as one of Nigeria’s foremost secondary schools. It was established through a collaborative effort between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the government of the Eastern Region of Nigeria. The school’s first principal, Professor Lynne C. Monroe, along with a team of UCLA professors, laid the groundwork for the institution’s reputation for excellence in education.
This landmark lecture underscores GCSS’s enduring commitment to fostering excellence among its students and alumni. Professor Idemyor’s lecture will delve into the interplay between health and education in promoting sustainable development, particularly in the context of climate change.
Reflecting on the theme, Professor Idemyor remarked: “After decades in academia, clinical practice, and clinical pharmacology, I have witnessed how health and education serve as foundational pillars for sustainable development. In a changing climate, these fields must converge synergistically to empower individuals with knowledge that safeguards well-being and builds resilience. Bridging education and health is not merely an opportunity—it is a necessity for creating a healthier, more sustainable future.”