Date: 18/12/2025
Time: 11:00 – 12:00 (GMT)
Location: Online
From knowledge to impact: developing sustainable dementia and home care solutions in Africa
In this webinar, Commonwealth Alumnus, Ralueke Ekezie will discuss practical pathways for developing sustainable, home-based dementia and elder care services in low-resource settings across Africa.
Ralueke will highlight how the Commonwealth Scholarship encouraged him to be a leader to innovate, advocate, and build inclusive, dementia-aware communities. Drawing on his experience as a dementia specialist and CEO of Blue Torch, Nigeria’s first nurse-led homecare agency, Ralueke will share insights into dementia care innovations, including community-based interventions, culturally responsive care planning, and the use of tools such as telenursing to reach underserved populations.
He will also discuss his role as the Africa Regional Lead for Global Research Nurses at the University of Oxford and how this equipped him to champion evidence-based nursing practice, leading to the establishment of the Centre for Nursing Research. Through this initiative, he has delivered research workshops and collaborations that trained and empowered over 2,000 nurses in research skills and clinical capacity building. His work demonstrates how strategic networking can expand partnerships, influence policy, and strengthen the role of nurses in clinical research and dementia care.
This webinar will address the CSC development theme, Strengthening resilience and response to crisis.
The CSC’s Development in Action webinar series provides an opportunity for Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni to present on their work and contribution to development across a range of contemporary global challenges and provide insight into ongoing research and action.
Open to all Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni, the monthly webinars will address one of the CSC’s six development themes and provide an opportunity for attendees to engage in real-time Q&A discussion on the topic presented.
You can watch previous webinars on the CSC’s YouTube channel.
Ralueke Ekezie is the Founder and CEO of Blue Torch Home Care Limited Nigeria’s first registered, nurse-led homecare agency. He leads on dementia awareness and advocacy and has positioned the organisation to win the Impact Africa Healthcare Provider Excellence Award and Connecting Nurses Care Challenge Innovation Award.
He is also the Founder and President of the African Nurses and Midwives Network (ANMN), a Pan-African platform uniting nursing and midwifery leaders across African countries. He is currently establishing the Centre for Nursing Research to strengthen evidence-based practice, capacity building, and nurse-led innovation in Nigeria. As Africa Regional Lead for Global Research Nurses (2014–2023), he trained over 2,000 nurses through workshops, mentorship, and capacity-building initiatives.
Post-scholarship, Ralueke became a dementia care specialist and coach in the UK. He has earned multiple honours, including the Sanofi/ICN Connecting Nurses Innovation Award and IASPHARMA Impact Award, and holds leadership fellowships such as YALI. He serves on international nursing boards and has contributed to global platforms, including an audience with King Charles III at the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation in 2023.
Ralueke Ekezie is a 2020 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholar from Nigeria. He completed his Master’s in Dementia Studies at University of Stirling.
