The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has issued a stark warning: Nigeria's ability to protect its citizens from future health crises is directly tied to the strength of its investment in homegrown scientific research. The institute stressed that without long-term, sustainable funding mechanisms, the nation's health security will remain critically vulnerable.
The Critical Role of the NIMR Foundation
During its November Monthly Media Briefing held in Lagos, NIMR spotlighted the work of the NIMR Foundation, its dedicated arm for mobilising resources. Presenting a four-year impact report, the institute revealed the Foundation's substantial achievements. These include training researchers in securing grants, developing early-career scientists, advocating for better government funding, and supporting pipelines for medical innovation.
Professor Oladapo Obafunwa, the Director General of NIMR, explained that the Foundation was established to complement the institute's work by attracting external resources, strengthening talent development, and advancing high-impact research crucial for tackling Nigeria's unique health challenges.
Media Partnership and the Push for a Unified National Fund
The briefing heavily emphasised the essential partnership with the media in shaping public understanding and support for science. NIMR is actively working to strengthen informed public discourse by engaging journalists and is developing a repository of media-ready materials to ensure accurate and contextualised reporting.
Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Chairman of the NIMR Foundation's Board of Trustees, argued that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the dangers of over-reliance on foreign innovations. He called for a self-sufficient national research ecosystem and revealed that the Federal Government is considering a major policy shift: consolidating all research-related spending into a single, unified fund to improve efficiency and impact.
"Whether an epidemic becomes a pandemic depends on how prepared we are. And preparedness is driven by research," Fashola stated, appealing to the government, media, industry, and the public to treat research as a top national priority.
Substantial Gains and the Need for Sustained Investment
Dr. Olajide Sobande, the Executive Director of the NIMR Foundation, provided concrete figures showcasing the Foundation's impact. Achievements include the mobilisation of N502 million, the training of 120 early-career researchers who subsequently secured N590.9 million in grants, and advocacy efforts that contributed to a N2 billion federal research allocation.
Despite these gains, board members cautioned that while philanthropic support has been invaluable, a robust national research system cannot be built on private goodwill alone. They urged journalists to maintain consistent pressure on the government for increased investment, noting that occasional news coverage is insufficient to keep research on the national agenda. The collective message was clear: strategic and sustained investment in local medical research is non-negotiable for Nigeria's future health security.
