Africa Regional Highlights: Innovation, Recognition, and Global Reach

Mission:BRAIN Ilorin Conference 2025: Official Highlights

Introduction

On 25-26 July 2025, the University of Ilorin hosted the Mission:BRAIN Ilorin Conference 2025, a milestone for African student-led medical events and the first neurosurgery conference in Nigeria organised entirely by students. Across two days, 1,962 in-person participants joined peers online from several countries, engaging with a programme that balanced research presentations, innovation challenges, clinical skills training, and outreach.

The road to this achievement began in August 2024, when Mubarak J. Mustapha, then a third-year medical student, envisioned the event and convened a 21-member Central Planning Committee (CPC) under chair Israel Charles Abraham. Over eleven months, the CPC coordinated correspondence with top neurosurgeons, secured institutional endorsements, managed publicity from campus walkways to social media feeds, and negotiated partnerships reaching secondary schools and global research bodies.

Threaded lightly through the programme was the theme, “Bridging Gaps: Advancing Brain Health through Science, Ethics, and Innovation,” visible in sessions from the Neurovation Challenge to the pre-conference Clinical Skills Lab.

With that, we present highlights of Nigeria’s first student-led neurosurgery conference: the Mission:BRAIN Ilorin Conference 2025.

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Pre-Conference (Aug 2024 → 25 July 2025)

CPC Formation and Laying the Groundwork

The conference moved from idea to structure on 22 August 2024, when the Central Planning Committee first met to map roles, milestones, and ownership. The 21-member CPC included students from multiple faculties (full roster in the CPC Profile segment of this magazine), each taking clear responsibility for areas ranging from abstracts to transport.

The Secretariat’s first major task was outreach—sending formal letters to senior figures such as Prof. B.V. Owoyele, Prof. K.W. Wahab, and Dr. O.M. Adegboye; extending invitations across faculties and associations; and opening doors to secondary schools for the essay competition. In parallel, the CPC secured endorsements that gave the conference institutional weight: the Nigerian Academy of Neurological Surgeons (NANS), the Neuroscience Society of Nigeria (NSNS) and the Department of Surgery, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) all lent their backing. By the time responses began to arrive, more than a dozen faculties, professional associations, and schools were already engaged.

Publicity

The publicity team deployed a mix of grassroots and digital tactics:

• 50+ visual assets—flyers, posters, and graphics—shared physically and online
  
• Stickers in high-traffic campus zones and public spaces
  
• Partnerships with bus drivers and keke riders to display conference branding
  
• Institutional collaborations with Kwara State University, Summit University, Thomas Adewumi University, Al-Hikmah University, and others
  
• Direct engagement via the University of Ilorin Student Union
  

The impact was tangible: more than 2,000 participants registered for physical and virtual attendance combined. A memorable highlight was the Deputy Registrar in the Vice Chancellor’s Office discovering the event through an online flyer, registering, and attending, validating the digital campaign’s reach.

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Registration & Attendance Preparation

In the weeks leading up to the conference, registration became the quiet backbone of the Mission:BRAIN Ilorin 2025 operation. The team’s challenge was to manage a hybrid audience of hundreds in the hall and dozens more online, ensuring that every participant could transition smoothly into the programme from the moment they signed up.

A three-track system was developed. For physical attendance, a dedicated Google Form drew an early response of 1,500 pre-registrations. This allowed the planners to forecast seating arrangements, transport needs, and catering volumes with precision. The virtual audience registered through two channels, 732 via the Luma platform and 457 directly on Zoom, each receiving targeted updates, reminders, and access links through curated Email and WhatsApp broadcast lists.

On-site registration handled the inevitable influx of last-minute participants, adding 329 names over the two days without disrupting session flow. The hall entrance became a well-managed sequence: identity confirmation, badge collection, and direct guidance to seating or networking areas. This approach integrated new arrivals into the event atmosphere immediately.

By the opening morning, the organisers had a data-driven picture of their audience, an asset that influenced effective transport runs, meal distributions, and even targeted post-conference follow-up.

Day 1: Pre-Conference Clinical Skills Lab

On 25 July 2025, the College of Health Sciences’ Clinical Skills Laboratory became the location for a focused prelude to the main conference. The Mission:BRAIN Unilorin Clinical Skills Lab Event brought together nearly 100 participants from the University of Ilorin, Kwara State University, LAUTECH, and Al-Hikmah University, representing medical, nursing, and allied health disciplines.

The afternoon began with Basic Life Support (BLS) training. Under the direction of experienced facilitators from the department of Neurosurgery, UITH. Participants learned about CPR and airway management using simulation manikins, with an emphasis on accuracy, timing, and technique. This was followed by a session on Emergency Care for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), led by Dr. Adeleke Nurudeen, consultant neurosurgeon, and colleagues from the Surgery Department. Using manikins, they demonstrated critical stabilisation steps and discussed decision-making strategies to minimise secondary injury.

A highlight of the event was the unveiling of the locally developed Global Surgery Box NG,  a compact, cost-effective training toolkit developed by the University of Ilorin Cardiothoracic Surgery Interest Group (UCTSIG) for suturing skills in resource-limited environments. Attendees engaged with the kit’s components, exploring its potential for broader application.

The event also facilitated inter-institutional connections. Discussions succeeding the event opened doors to collaborative projects, and all participants left with the promise of certificates recognising their skill acquisition. The day closed with group photographs, capturing both the learning and the shared anticipation for the conference’s formal opening.

Day 2: Conference Day

By the morning of 26 July 2025, the University of Ilorin’s Main Auditorium had transformed into a focal point for one of the most ambitious student-led health gatherings in Nigeria. Outside, the two conference shuttle buses running the Tanke Axis and the College/UITH Axis made steady round trips, ferrying participants from their pick-up points. Approximately 800 attendees would be transported.

Inside, the registration team worked in coordinated sequence. Attendees arrived in streams, some pre-registered, their details quickly confirmed; others walking in and signing up on the spot. Over the course of the weekend, the headcount would climb to 1,962 in-person participants, supported by 88–162 Zoom viewers at peak sessions and around 30 YouTube Live participants. Every attendee, whether physically present or connecting remotely, was already tied into a communications system built over months, ensuring they knew where to be, when to arrive, and how to access each session.

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The auditorium bore clear evidence of meticulous preparation, rows of neatly aligned seats, a stage framed by the sponsor backdrop, banners placed with precision along the aisles, and registration points positioned to maintain a seamless flow of participants. As delegates settled, the audience profile was a clear mix of undergraduate and postgraduate students, seasoned faculty members, medical professionals, and secondary school students invited through the outreach programme.

The formal programme began with the recitation of the University anthem, followed by a welcome address from Mubarak J. Mustapha, Chapter President and initiator of Mission:BRAIN Ilorin. He traced the chapter’s path from its founding in 2023 to this moment, noting how the vision of building a local movement for brain health had culminated in Nigeria’s first student-led neurosurgery conference.

Following the opening remarks, the podium was taken by Dr. Adeleke Nurudeen, who represented Professor Timothy Olugbenga Odebode, Chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, who served as the conference’s “Father of the Day.” He delivered a measured but warm address, acknowledging the remarkable growth of the Mission:BRAIN Ilorin chapter since its inception in 2023. He outlined the society’s four guiding pillars, spiritual depth, scientific curiosity, medical mission, and social transformation, and cited notable milestones such as the World Epilepsy Day Outreach, which reached over a thousand individuals, and the Cranioguard Initiative, aimed at preventing spinal and brain injuries. His speech positioned the chapter’s achievements within both local and global contexts, noting international recognition through the Service and Compassion Award from the global Mission:BRAIN Foundation.

The day’s keynote address was delivered by Professor Femi Bankole, consultant neurosurgeon at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, who unpacked the conference theme: “Bridging Gaps: Advancing Brain Health through Science, Ethics, and Innovation.” Through vivid examples, he argued that no single person, discipline, or idea could address the complexities of brain health in isolation. He spoke of a rural seizure patient linked to a neurospecialist via a mobile app and of a multidisciplinary team comprising a graduate, neurosurgeon, and ethicist, developing a low-cost brain implant for stroke rehabilitation. His message was as much a call for interdisciplinary synergy as it was a warning about Africa’s persistent data gap in neuroscience research. Citing AI diagnostic models trained solely on Western datasets, he pointed to the risk of diagnostic bias against African patients, gap that must be addressed not only with technical solutions but also with ethical vigilance.

Further expert contributions deepened the discussion. Professor Olayide Agodirin, Head of Surgery at the University of Ilorin, introduced the audience to applications of machine learning in neurology, from improved diagnostic accuracy to preventative modelling. An interdisciplinary panel followed, assembling specialists in public health, neuroscience, psychiatry, neurology, and neurosurgery to explore the multifaceted challenges of brain health. Dr. Alaofin, consultant neurologist at UITH, underscored the role of robust data in improving patient care, while Dr. Adeboye provided an aspirational but practical roadmap for becoming a neurosurgeon in Nigeria or abroad: cultivate genuine interest, work hard consistently, and seek mentorship from experienced professionals.

Distinguished panelists from neurosurgery, psychiatry, public health, and neuroscience fields engaging the audience in a multidisciplinary dialogue on brain health.

The afternoon sessions shifted focus from keynote lectures to platforms for innovation and academic competition. The Abstract Presentation Competition, run to a rigorous review process, featured six presenters from Nigeria, India, and Trinidad & Tobago, each shortlisted from an initial pool of 26 submissions. Topics ranged from clinical neurosurgery to biomedical engineering, with presentations supported by data visualisations, case studies, and, in the case of international entrants, pre-recorded video pitches to ensure seamless delivery despite time zone constraints.

Prizes under the Abode–Akinduro Abstract Award, Sponsored by two distinguished neurosurgeons at the Mayo Clinic: Dr. Kingsley Abode-Iyamah (MD), Director of Spine & Spinal Deformity, Residency Advising Director, and Medical Director of Instrument Processing, and Dr. Oluwaseun O. Akinduro, Director of Spinal Oncology. Together, they established the award to recognise excellence in student research.

• 1st – Oyedepo Oluwafikayomi Deborah, Burden of Epilepsy at a Tertiary Health Facility in Northcentral Nigeria, ₦100,000
  
• 2nd – Khalil-St Brice, The “Around the World” Technique in Aneurysm Management: A Scoping Review, ₦75,000
  
• 3rd – Kumar Raghavendra, Biodegradable 3-D Printed Cranioplasty Implants in Pediatric Skull Defects, ₦50,000
  

The Neurovation Challenge tested how far student-led creativity could go in addressing pressing gaps in neurological healthcare. Over successive rounds, teams pitched solutions ranging from digital health platforms to low-cost medical devices and community-based prevention strategies. It was as much a test of problem-solving under pressure as of innovation itself. Judges weighed clarity, feasibility, and scalability before presenting the Abode–Akinduro NeuroVation Award:

• 1st – Team Beta Mind, ₦100,000
  
• 2nd – Team Stroke Health, ₦80,000
  
• 3rd – Team Menteyn, ₦60,000
  

Even the next generation had their space on the stage. The Essay Competition for secondary school students tackled the ethics of AI in brain health, yielding thoughtful arguments that impressed the audience and judges alike. Winners received ₦40,000, ₦25,000, and ₦15,000 respectively.

A ceremonial high point came with the unveiling of the inaugural Ilorin NeuroJournal by its Chief Editor, Bashir Yusuf, a 50-page annual publication of Mission:BRAIN Ilorin. The magazine represented a consolidation of the society’s vision into print spanning content submission from over 10 countries across 5 continents globally. Its pages carried exclusive interviews, including a discussion with West Africa’s first certified female neurosurgeon, insights from a leading professor of paediatric neurology as well as a conversation on the crossroads of public health and brain health with the former National Chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria. Thematic essays explored the ethics of artificial intelligence in medicine, the challenges of stigma in mental health, and the promise of global surgery initiatives. Visual spreads documented the society’s statewide outreaches, from World Epilepsy Day campaigns to the Cranioguard Initiative on brain and spinal injury prevention. The launch drew applause for the students’ achievement and the permanence it gave to their work, a publication that could be read, shared, and cited long after the conference closed.

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The journal was launched by distinguished guests: Engr. Nasir Giwa, Prof. MAN Adeboye, Prof. TM Akande, Prof. Ayinmode, Prof. B.V. Owoyele, Dr. Alaofin, and chapter advisor Prof. K. Wahab. The Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. B.S. Alabi, and the outgoing Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Prof. L.O. Abdulrahman, were also represented.

By the close of the day, winners had been photographed, sponsors acknowledged. What began as a gathering had evolved into a network, linking students, professionals, and innovators under a shared commitment to advancing brain health in Nigeria.

Post-Conference

The close of the conference did not mark an end but rather a widening of circles. Within days, conversations migrated from the Main Auditorium to offices, boardrooms, and digital platforms, where the impact of Mission:BRAIN Ilorin 2025 began to take new form.

The first wave of post-conference engagement came in the form of institutional recognition. A delegation comprising the chapter president, CPC chair, a NeuroJournal committee member, and the incoming president paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor’s office, where they were received by Deputy Registrar Azeezat Ibraheem. More than a gesture of thanks, the meeting became a strategic conversation on Mission:BRAIN Ilorin could continue granting individuals access to global opportunities, redefining surgical care, and strengthening research and exchange programmes with Mission:BRAIN Global.

A series of follow-up visits to senior faculty brought further inspiration. At the Educational Technology Unit, Prof. Bello reflected on the event’s wider significance. She was struck by Prof. MAN’s remark during the panel session challenging old myths about left-handedness. She also drew inspiration from the Ilorin NeuroJournal’s interview with West Africa’s first certified female neurosurgeon, noting how such stories reframe possibilities for young women in medicine.

The delegation’s visit with Prof. Abdullah, Director of TETFUND, emphasized the role of institutional support in sustaining student-led innovation, while Prof. Mulikat Mustapha pointed the team towards international research opportunities. She highlighted platforms such as Welcomm, Horizon Europe, IMRAT, and ACU, but also spoke candidly about the barriers, particularly the undervaluing of collaboration in Nigerian medical practice. Her challenge was clear: Mission:BRAIN Ilorin must not only seize global opportunities but also model the collaborative ethos locally.

Each of these visits concluded with the ceremonial launching of the Ilorin NeuroJournal.

Media coverage amplified the message further. On 2 August 2025, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Ilorin aired a feature on its News Tonight segment, capturing the scale, diversity, and vibrancy of the gathering. Edited clips showed rows of delegates in branded shirts, keynote speakers addressing the hall, and young innovators pitching solutions under the keen eyes of judges. Just over a week later, on 11 August 2025, the University of Ilorin Bulletin published a detailed write-up, celebrating the initiative as a historic milestone for the institution.

The social media afterglow kept the conversation alive well beyond the closing ceremony. On the official side, Mission:BRAIN Ilorin’s Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn channels rolled out a steady stream of post-event highlights, award presentations, the NeuroJournal launch, candid gallery shots, and short video reels of keynote moments and competition pitches. Each post extended the conference’s reach, drawing engagement from local followers and international collaborators alike.

But the larger chorus came from attendees themselves. LinkedIn, in particular, lit up in the days following the event. Students and  professionals posted reflections, photo collages, and even short essays about sessions that had impacted them most. Some celebrated their wins in the Abstract or Neurovation competitions; others shared how a panel discussion or keynote reframed their approach to their field. Several posts tagged both the University of Ilorin and Mission:BRAIN Global, linking the chapter’s local achievement to a wider network of professionals.

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Looking Ahead

The Mission:BRAIN Ilorin Conference 2025 showed what can happen when preparation meets purpose. What began as a vision among a small group of students grew into a gathering that brought together surgeons, scientists, innovators, and young learners under one roof. Over two days, ideas were exchanged, skills were tested, and new connections were made, each a small step toward strengthening brain health in Nigeria.

The theme, Bridging Gaps: Advancing Brain Health through Science, Ethics, and Innovation, was visible in the range of voices on stage, in the solutions pitched by student teams, and in the deliberate inclusion of secondary school students in the conversation.

As the focus shifts to the next edition, the 2025 conference leaves behind ongoing research projects, growing partnerships, and a clearer sense of what is possible when young professionals take the lead.

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