Career Profile

Gloria Oiyahumen Anetor is a Professor of Public Health Education and academic leader with extensive experience in public health education, research, programme development, and university administration. She pioneered the establishment of the Public Health Science Programme at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in 2015 while serving as a Senior Lecturer in community health unit. As the pioneer Head of Department, Professor Anetor led the development and accreditation processes of the B.Sc. public health programme, resulting in full accreditation status in 2015 — making Public Health the first programme in the faculty of Health Sciences to attain full accreditation. Her leadership contributed significantly to strengthening public health training within Nigeria’s open and distance learning system. She also developed the curriculum for the Master of Public Health (MPH) programme and successfully facilitated Senate approval for the commencement of postgraduate Public Health training at NOUN. Her work laid the foundation for the advancement of Public Health education, research, and capacity building within the institution.
Professor Anetor’s professional interests include public health systems, migration health, research administration, mentorship, capacity development, and innovative approaches to higher education in open and distance learning environments. She was also the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences from 2018 to 2020. She gave the first inaugural lecture in the department of Public Health Science at the NOUN and was the first female to give an inaugural lecture at the faculty of Health Sciences in NOUN 2025. She was appointed the second Director and first female director of the centre of excellence in migration and global studies (CEMGS) from September 1st, 2021, till December 31st, 2025. While in this position she conveyed the first international conference attracting participants from all over the world. She was also able to attract full sponsorship grant from TETFUND to run the centre from 2025. She was appointed Director, Directorate of Research Administration (DRA) of the University from April 2026 to date. She is actively involved in research collaborations, postgraduate mentorship, and academic development initiatives at national and international levels.