Distinguished PAN members,

Warm greetings from the Executive Council of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) and Happy New Year!

We thank God for keeping us alive and well to see this brand new year 2025. We also look forward to hosting you at our annual conference, the PANConf which is scheduled to take place between the 22nd and the 24th of January 2025 in Gombe State. Our LOC, ably led by Dr Iliya Jalo have been working hard to ensure that preparations are top notch and adequate security has been put in place for the participants.

We have however noted with dismay that registration for this upcoming conference has been quite poor despite the efforts of the publicity team. The major reason given for the low registration has been the high cost of transportation especially during this period of inflation.

In view of that, we have received several requests from well meaning members to have a hybrid conference this time around. We have never held a hybrid conference for our PANConf as we all eagerly look forward to the warmth and comradeship that the physical nature of a conference brings as well as the opportunity to travel to new places and experience new cultures. We have also been wary about having a hybrid conference because of its antecedent problems such as poor internet connectivity and difficulties in the ICT capturing all parts of the events of such a large conference like ours.

The PAN Executive Council has however considered these suggestions and after due consultation with the LOC, has decided to hold a hybrid conference for PANConf Gombe 2025. We hope that this will encourage more members to register and be part of this conference. Further information about that will be shared in subsequent communications.

Do register and join us! We sincerely look forward to your presence and participation at PANConf Gombe 2025!