The Office of the President has today announced the appointment of Dr Bernard Valentin as Chairperson of the University of Seychelles Council, effective 24th March 2026, for a period of three (3) years.
Dr Valentin brings to this role a distinguished record of public health leadership and national service. He currently serves as Special Advisor to the Minister for Health and has over a decade of experience as Principal Secretary for Health, having held the position across two terms from 2011 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2025. During his tenure, he provided executive oversight to the National Institute of Health and Social Studies, contributing significantly to the strengthening of academic programmes and institutional development.
His leadership experience spans multiple national bodies. Dr Valentin is currently Chairperson of the Seychelles Medical and Dental Council and also chairs the non-governmental organisation Patient Solidarity. Since 2018, he has served as a member of the Seychelles Qualifications Authority and previously sat on the University of Seychelles Council between 2016 and 2018. At the international level, he represented Seychelles on the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation for three years, reflecting his engagement in global health governance.
Dr Valentin holds a medical degree from the University of Athens and a Master of Arts in Health Services Management with distinction from the University of Manchester. He also holds a combined diploma in Epidemiology, Statistics and Management from the University of Nairobi, as well as a Diploma in Addiction Studies from the University of Reunion.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr Valentin has contributed to academic research, including coordinating the Seychelles component of an international study in collaboration with Lund University and the University of Rochester on the long-term public health effects of heavy metals on specific population groups. He has also co-authored a peer-reviewed article in the field of public health.
Beyond his medical and policy career, Dr Valentin is an accomplished literary figure and a two-time laureate of the Antoine Abel Prize, Seychelles’ highest literary honour. Fluent in English, French, Greek, and Creole, he brings a unique combination of clinical expertise, administrative leadership, and cultural depth to the role.
The Government welcomes Dr Valentin’s appointment and is confident that his extensive experience and leadership will contribute to the continued growth and strengthening of the University of Seychelles as a centre of academic excellence.
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Twenty-two-year-old Zuriel Oduwoleh, who has been formally nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, held a two-day workshop at the University of Seychelles (UniSey) auditorium in Anse Royale over the weekend. The workshop on cinematography and mobile filmmaking, targeting 50 Seychellois youth, was a partnership between the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), the National Arts and Craft Council (NACC) and UniSey.
Present at the workshop were Minister for Youth, Sports and Family Marie-Celine Zialor, chief executive of the NACC Jimmy Savy and chief executive of SNYC Albert Duncan. The aim of the session was to equip the youth of Seychelles with valuable skills in digital storytelling and content creation. The collaboration came after a meeting with President Wavel Ramkalawan during the United Nations General Assembly Week in September 2024. For Zuriel, this marks her first international visit since her nomination, signifying the nation’s growing prominence on the global stage in peacebuilding and youth empowerment.
Addressing the guests, Mr Savy expressed his gratitude to Zuriel and encouraged all present to take the opportunity to learn, develop and ask questions. Among the participants was Trevor Bristol, well known as Style from Swagg Tunes, who shared that he has a passion for filmmaking, and that is why he decided to attend the workshop. Andrya Prempe Marimba, a student at the Seychelles Institute for Art and Design (SIAD), said she decided to attend the workshop to help with her school projects. ‘I am in my last year studying graphic design, and this session will help me with projects that require emphasis on digital aspects,’ she said.
