Convinced that education and health play a decisive role in sustainable development, the UNESCO Chair in Education and Health, present in Côte d’Ivoire for about a decade, officially launched its activities on Friday, October 26, 2025, at Félix Houphouët-Boigny University in Cocody.

In her address, Mrs. Tin’Ga Telou, UNESCO Chair in Education and Health and mission officer of the Francophone Network of National Representatives, emphasized the importance of being present in specific countries to conduct research aimed at improving living conditions and public health through education.

The initiative seeks to address numerous challenges linked to education and health, including limited access to reliable information, risky behaviors fueled by cultural beliefs, and an education system often ill-equipped to integrate health programs. These constraints, she stressed, call for innovative approaches combining educational sciences, public health, and community participation.

For Professor Ballo Zié, President of Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, the UNESCO Chair in Education and Health represents an essential bridge between the two domains, serving both present and future generations. He reaffirmed that through this representation, the university is committed to producing and sharing high-level interdisciplinary knowledge.
“This chair represents a responsibility,” he declared. “It seeks to promote a fairer, more inclusive, and more united society, where every person can benefit from equitable access to both education and health.”

According to the organizers, the launch day was designed to strengthen stakeholder engagement and lay the foundation for joint actions toward more effective health education.

Professor Kei Mathias, Director of the Institute for Research and Studies in Education and Psychology (IREEP) and National Representative of the UNESCO Chair in Education and Health, expressed his deep satisfaction with the success of the event.