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  • NIMR deepens Nigeria’s health research frontier through world-class clinical trials

    NIMR deepens Nigeria’s health research frontier through world-class clinical trials

    In an age where scientific evidence defines how nations respond to disease, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) stands as one of Nigeria’s most consistent bastions of hope — turning questions into data, and data into lifesaving health solutions. Within its quiet laboratories in Yaba, Lagos, researchers are conducting some of the country’s most important medical experiments: randomised clinical trials (RCTs) that determine which drugs, vaccines, and interventions truly work for Nigerians.

    At its October media chat themed “Randomized Clinical Trials at NIMR: A Cornerstone of Translational Research,” Dr. David Ayoola Oladele, Deputy Director of Research and Consultant Public Health Physician at NIMR, offered an illuminating look into how RCTs have become central to the institute’s mission. With a strong academic pedigree — spanning the University of Ilorin, University of Lagos, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Saint Louis University in the U.S. — Dr. Oladele currently leads NIMR’s Centre for Clinical Trials, positioning the institute at the heart of Nigeria’s health research ecosystem. At its core, a randomised clinical trial involves assigning participants to different treatment groups by chance to determine the safety and effectiveness of a medical intervention. For NIMR, RCTs are not merely academic exercises but practical instruments for improving lives — generating data that inform national policies, treatment guidelines, and public health interventions.

    Over the last two decades, NIMR has coordinated and implemented several landmark trials in collaboration with both local and international partners. From antiretroviral drug studies for HIV treatment to microbicide trials aimed at preventing transmission, malaria drug efficacy tests, and even COVID-19 therapy evaluations, these studies have consistently placed Nigeria on the global research map. The institute also conducted the SAVVY Vaginal Gel trial for HIV prevention, and a pivotal trial assessing the efficacy of artesunate-mefloquine in malaria treatment across multiple regions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, NIMR spearheaded a local clinical evaluation of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine phosphate for coronavirus treatment — a first-of-its-kind Nigerian-led randomized study that underscored the country’s growing research capacity.

    Beyond therapeutics, NIMR has also advanced diagnostic validation. Its comparative studies on malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and COVID-19 immunoassays helped improve diagnostic accuracy in clinical settings nationwide. More recently, the institute completed the SIFCOVAN vaccine trial, a randomized study evaluating fractional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Nigerian adults — a major contribution to vaccine optimization and equity. NIMR’s research portfolio also extends to public health interventions. Through the 4 Youth by Youth (4YBY) project, the institute used crowdsourcing to enhance HIV self-testing uptake among adolescents — proving how behavioural science can complement biomedical innovation. Such work, according to Dr. Oladele, “demonstrates that science must touch lives, not just publish papers.”

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    Today, NIMR is running an expanding portfolio of trials that include non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and chronic kidney disorders. Trials like the TASSH cluster randomized study are designed to test new approaches to blood pressure control in community settings — an important step as Nigeria faces rising NCD-related mortality.

    Supporting these initiatives is a network of advanced infrastructure that rivals global research institutions. The institute houses a purpose-built 10-bed clinical trial facility for phase I and II pharmacokinetic studies, an ISO 15189-certified Central Research Laboratory, and a state-of-the-art Biorepository and Data Centre equipped for real-time digital data capture. Oversight is provided by an accredited Institutional Review Board (IRB) under the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC), ensuring strict ethical compliance.

    With a pool of trained investigators and partnerships across Africa, NIMR is also a recognised training hub for clinical trialists, nurturing the next generation of researchers across West Africa. However, the journey has not been without hurdles. Dr. Oladele identified persistent challenges that slow down clinical research in Nigeria — low research literacy among the public, inadequate funding for investigator-led trials, prolonged ethical approval timelines, and weak linkages between academia, industry, and government. The dominance of donor-funded studies, he said, underscores the urgent need for sustainable local financing and stronger pharmaceutical industry engagement. “We need to move from dependency to self-determination in research,” he noted.

    Yet, despite these challenges, NIMR is charting a bold course for the future. The institute is aligning its research agenda with the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) — a federal government framework aimed at localizing health innovation. Through this alignment, NIMR intends to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for local drug and vaccine manufacturing, generate the clinical evidence needed for regulatory approvals, and enhance collaboration with regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC and NHREC.

    In addition, the newly established Centre for Clinical Trials at NIMR will harmonize multi-site RCTs across the country, providing coordination, oversight, and technical support to research teams nationwide. Plans are also underway to create regional research clusters linking universities, teaching hospitals, and private clinical research organisations (CROs) under NIMR’s umbrella. For Dr. Oladele, the vision is clear: to transform NIMR into a continental leader in translational medicine — where discoveries in the lab are rapidly translated into real-world health solutions. “Randomized clinical trials are not just about testing drugs,” he said. “They are about building systems of trust, ethics, and excellence that ensure Nigerians have access to safe and effective innovations.”

  • Safe but not proven: NIMR study finds most herbal products lack verified efficacy

    Safe but not proven: NIMR study finds most herbal products lack verified efficacy

    After six years of rigorous research, scientists at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) have revealed that although most herbal medicines circulating in Nigeria are safe for consumption, their effectiveness in treating diseases remains largely unproven. The findings, unveiled last week during a media briefing by the Centre for Research in Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine at NIMR, Yaba, highlight a growing gap between the popularity of herbal products and the scientific evidence supporting their therapeutic claims.

    According to Dr. Oluwagbemiga Olanrewaju Aina, Deputy Director of Research in the Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition at NIMR, the conclusion emerged from a comprehensive safety and efficacy evaluation of 46 herbal formulations conducted since 2019. “All the 46 herbal products evaluated over the last six years were found to be safe in toxicity studies using animal models. However, none of them passed efficacy tests,” Aina disclosed.

    The tested formulations—ranging from painkillers and anti-malarials to anti-COVID and cancer remedies—were subjected to acute and sub-acute toxicity studies, confirming that they posed no harm at standard dosages. Some of the products examined included Kampe Bitters, Divine Herbal Eye Medicine, Yusram Colon Cleanser, COVID Organics Herbal Tea from Madagascar, and Vernonia Antiviral Herb. While none of the products demonstrated harmful effects, Aina cautioned that safety alone does not equate to effectiveness. “Just because a product doesn’t harm you doesn’t mean it works,” he warned. “There is a growing trend of herbalists making unverified claims—and, in some cases, adulterating their preparations with conventional drugs.”

    Aina, who is also an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Eko University of Medicine and Health Sciences, noted that the Centre played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic by evaluating several herbal and pharmaceutical formulations, including Virucidine, Ivermectin, and protein-based immune therapies. However, none of the trials demonstrated statistically significant clinical benefits over standard treatments.

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    He urged herbal medicine producers to go beyond anecdotal evidence by conducting efficacy studies and identifying the active ingredients in their formulations. “We advise producers of herbal medicines to isolate and characterise active ingredients in their preparations. More importantly, they must demonstrate that these ingredients work—not just that they don’t kill,” he said. Aina also called for greater investment in research infrastructure, better access to laboratory equipment, and the establishment of standardis             ed animal facilities to support preclinical studies. Beyond its herbal research, the Centre has in the past six years evaluated 46 herbal medicinal products, conducted multiple preclinical and clinical trials, and trained over 500 industrial trainees, 150 project students, 50 interns, and 80 PhD students. It also played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s COVID-19 response and maintains collaborations with several universities locally and abroad.

    Despite these achievements, Aina noted ongoing challenges, including limited funding, inadequate laboratory infrastructure, and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, which remains an active focus of his broader research. He concluded by reaffirming the importance of integrating traditional knowledge with modern science. “Traditional medicine remains a vital part of African healthcare culture,” he said. “But science must validate tradition—not replace it. Herbal therapy has its place, but it must be backed by evidence. That is the only way forward.”

  • NIMR demands youth-led HIV response to meet 2030 goals

    NIMR demands youth-led HIV response to meet 2030 goals

    A bold shift is underway in how HIV care is delivered to young Nigerians. The focus is no longer just on treatment—but on – but on building systems of support that reflect the complexities of adolescence—uncertainty, transition, and vulnerability. This message was front and centre at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in Lagos during its monthly media engagement.

    At the heart of this movement is Dr. Agatha David, Director of Research and Consultant Paediatrician at NIMR. With over two decades at the forefront of child and adolescent health, she is leading the charge to close persistent gaps in HIV care for young people—gaps that have persisted despite national progress. “Adolescents and young adults living with HIV have the worst outcomes of all age groups,” she says, pointing to low testing rates, weak adherence to medication, and staggering levels of mental health distress as critical barriers to success.

    Globally, UNAIDS aims to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 through its 95-95-95 goal: 95per cent of people living with HIV should know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed should be on antiretroviral therapy, and 95 percent of those on treatment should have undetectable viral lods. But for adolescents in Nigeria, those targets remain far from reach. A study conducted by NIMR tested nearly 1,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 who had never previously been tested. Shockingly, 12 per cent tested positive—nearly 10 times the national prevalence rate. “It was a wake-up call,” Dr. David recalls. “These are young people walking around unaware they’re living with HIV—and potentially transmitting it.”

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    The challenge doesn’t end with diagnosis. Once enrolled in care, many adolescents struggle to consistently take their medication. To address this, NIMR introduced a series of interventions, starting with Directly Observed Antiretroviral Therapy (DOART). “We discovered that a number of patients thought to be failing second-line therapy weren’t drug-resistant at all—they just weren’t taking their meds,” she explains. Under DOART, caregivers were asked to watch adolescents take their pills daily, resulting in significant improvement in viral suppression. But sustainability remains a concern. “Parents are busy. Some young people are in boarding schools or universities. They need autonomy, but also support,” Dr. David notes.

    Enter digital health innovations. NIMR piloted both one-way and bi-directional SMS reminders—coded messages like “Have you watched TV today?”—to maintain discretion while prompting adherence. The bi-directional messages, which allow patients to respond, showed better results. Pairing this with peer navigation, where successfully suppressed youth mentor those struggling, further improved outcomes. Still, antiretroviral adherence isn’t the only obstacle. Dr. David emphasises that sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a critical, yet neglected, component. “Many HIV-positive girls are getting pregnant without understanding how or why. Some are kicked out of their homes. The stigma is overwhelming.”

    In one study, over 20 per cent of participants had initiated sex before age 15, with high rates of unprotected sex and transactional relationships. Pregnancies often ended in unsafe abortions, compounding health risks. “We found that many adolescents lack basic SRH knowledge and have no one to talk to—neither parents nor trained professionals.” Comprehensive sexuality education is key, says Dr. David, and it must extend beyond schools to reach out-of-school youth through community and faith-based initiatives. “We need to train health workers in adolescent care. Many so-called youth-friendly clinics offer little more than condoms—and even those aren’t always available.”

    Mental health is another pressing concern. NIMR’s recent studies found that more than 20 per cent of adolescents living with HIV showed signs of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. A new clinical trial is set to examine the impact of routine mental health counseling as part of HIV care.

    Meanwhile, at the frontier of prevention, Dr. Sabdat Ekama is leading research into a novel HIV microbicide vaginal gel designed to protect women during sex—a demographic disproportionately affected by HIV. The gel is “smart,” becoming viscous upon contact with body temperature to prevent leakage and incorporating targeted drug delivery triggered by natural enzymes. Having shown promise in lab tests and animal trials, the gel is entering pre-clinical stages, with its design shaped by feedback from women in high-risk groups. “We listened to their needs—concerns about affordability, privacy, and ease of use. Co-creating this product with them is essential for future success,” says Dr. Ekama.

  • Why 43 million Nigerians remain at risk of river blindness – NIMR researchers

    Why 43 million Nigerians remain at risk of river blindness – NIMR researchers

    Researchers at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) have raised concerns that over 43 million Nigerians are still at risk of contracting river blindness, also known as onchocerciasis.

    River blindness is a disease caused by a parasite (Onchocerca volvulus) spread by the bite of black flies that breed around fast-moving rivers, especially in rural areas. It can lead to severe skin problems and blindness if untreated.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 99% of infected people live in Africa and Yemen, with a small number also found on the border between Brazil and Venezuela. In 2023, the WHO said about 249.5 million people needed preventive treatment for the disease worldwide.

    At a media briefing, a Director of Research at NIMR and a public health parasitologist, Dr Babatunde Adewale, said some Nigerian communities are still affected due to poor environmental conditions and insecurity, which make it hard for health workers to reach them.

    He explained that ivermectin, the main drug used to treat the disease, is very effective in killing the parasite’s larvae, though it takes many years of regular treatment to fully stop the disease because adult worms can live and continue producing larvae for a long time.

    “About 43 million Nigerians are at risk, and roughly 37 million have already been treated. Treatment has been going on for over 15 years. Some areas have even reduced treatment because transmission has been interrupted.” Dr. Adewale said.

    He noted that states like Katsina, Nasarawa, Enugu, Anambra, Borno, and Abia have reached the stage where the disease is no longer spreading.

    To confirm this progress, researchers are testing over 3,000 blood samples in each state. If less than 0.1% of people test positive, it means the disease is no longer being transmitted in that area.

    “The national goal is to eliminate river blindness by 2030, and we are on the right track,” he added.

    Dr. Adewale also said ivermectin remains highly effective. “Within six months of treatment, we often cannot find the parasite larvae in the skin anymore. If ivermectin is used consistently for 12 to 15 years, the disease can be eliminated,” he explained.

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    Also speaking at the event, a medical sociologist and research fellow at NIMR, Adeniyi Adeleye, said local beliefs and misinformation are affecting efforts to fight river blindness.

    “In many rural areas, people don’t believe the disease is caused by blackfly bites. Some think it is the result of witchcraft or a punishment from God,” he said.

    These beliefs, he warned, make people reject medical treatment. “If we don’t deal with these cultural issues, even the best treatments and innovations may not work,” he said.

    Both experts stressed the need for continued treatment, public awareness, and community education to fully eliminate river blindness in Nigeria.

  • Every maternal death must be investigated, not ignored — NIMR

    Every maternal death must be investigated, not ignored — NIMR

    In the silent corners of too many Nigerian homes, the same tragedy repeats itself: a young woman, full of life and dreams, dies while giving birth. Her family mourns. Her community moves on. The system shrugs. And the country, once again, fails to ask the most important question — why? In 2023 alone, an estimated 993 Nigerian women died for every 100,000 live births — making childbirth one of the deadliest risks a woman can take in the country. According to the World Bank, Nigeria alone accounts for nearly 20 percent of all maternal deaths worldwide. These numbers are not just grim; they are a global embarrassment. But even more disturbing is what lies beneath them: a vast, gaping hole in the way Nigeria records, investigates, and responds to maternal deaths.

    At a media briefing in Lagos, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) delivered a sobering reality check: the numbers we are working with may be flawed, incomplete — and dangerously misleading. “How exactly did we arrive at the maternal mortality statistics that Nigeria has today?” asked Prof Oladapo Obafunwa, a forensic pathologist and Director-General of NIMR. His question is not rhetorical. It is an indictment of a system that continues to guess at causes of death, often based on assumptions rather than evidence.

    Today, Nigeria’s maternal mortality data is largely drawn from tertiary hospitals — facilities that handle only the most severe and complicated cases. This method excludes countless deaths occurring in primary or secondary health centres, or worse, at the hands of unskilled traditional birth attendants. These blind spots leave policymakers planning with only fragments of the truth. Even in hospitals, many maternal deaths are not followed by autopsies. Causes are presumed, often incorrectly. According to Obafunwa, this lack of post-mortem analysis has turned Nigeria into a country that reacts to statistics without understanding the real causes behind them.

    To address this crisis, NIMR is proposing a national maternal mortality audit policy, underpinned by mandatory autopsies and a coronial legal framework that makes maternal deaths not only reportable but investigable. Obafunwa referenced the Lagos State Coroner’s Law of 2005, which already mandates autopsies for maternal deaths. While Lagos has taken this step toward accountability, most other states have not — meaning thousands of maternal deaths go undocumented, uninvestigated, and unlearned from. “We need a nationwide coronial law that mandates autopsies in such cases. Without proper investigations, we are only scratching the surface,” said Obafunwa.

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    Prof Oliver Ezechi, Director of Research at NIMR and a senior obstetrician, shared how autopsies have time and again revealed misdiagnosed causes of death. In one case, a woman presumed to have died from pre-eclampsia was found to have succumbed to an amniotic fluid embolism — a rare and deadly complication that cannot be confirmed without a post-mortem. “Those reviews were not to blame anyone but to learn. Lessons learned saved lives,” Ezechi said.

    What Ezechi and Obafunwa are calling for is a cultural and institutional shift. Every maternal death, they argue, should trigger a structured review process, involving forensic pathologists, obstetricians, midwives, and hospital administrators. The goal? To understand systemic failings, identify patterns, and implement targeted interventions. Globally, the top three causes of maternal mortality are well-known: severe bleeding, hypertensive disorders, and infections. Yet Nigeria continues to have one of the highest maternal death rates on earth. Why? Because without confirmed diagnoses, the country is implementing generic fixes to specific problems it hasn’t fully identified.

    A robust maternal mortality audit system, complete with mandatory autopsies, could bring Nigeria in line with best practices in countries that have dramatically reduced maternal deaths. But doing so will require more than just good ideas — it will require political will, legislative action, and sustained investment. The Federal Ministry of Health must lead the charge. Lawmakers must be bold enough to pass the necessary coronial laws. Hospitals — both public and private — must adopt a culture of transparency and accountability. “This is not about blaming doctors or nurses,” Ezechi explained. “It’s about understanding what went wrong so we can fix it. Hiding the facts helps no one.”

    Nigeria’s maternal health crisis is more than a health emergency. It is a national moral failure — a reflection of systemic neglect, broken accountability, and insufficient compassion. Every maternal death should not be just another statistic. It should be a question — a haunting, urgent question — demanding an answer grounded in truth, science, and empathy.

  • NIMR targets development of Cholera, Lassa fever vaccines by 2025

    NIMR targets development of Cholera, Lassa fever vaccines by 2025

    The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has announced plans to address pressing local health challenges through the development of homegrown vaccines.

     The initiative is a cornerstone of the institute’s transformative agenda for 2025, aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s capacity to tackle infectious diseases.

    The Director-General of NIMR, Prof. John Obafunwa, revealed that the institute’s focus for the coming year includes the development of vaccines for Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases. 

    He highlighted ongoing collaborations with international partners, including a South African team tasked with producing an African-focused COVID-19 vaccine, as a critical step toward achieving this goal.

    Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, Prof. Obafunwa disclosed that NIMR has already initiated discussions with the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on vaccine production for Lassa fever. “We are optimistic that by next year, tangible progress will be made in this area,” he said.

    Prof. Obafunwa acknowledged that funding remains a significant challenge for NIMR’s ambitious projects, particularly from government sources.

    However, he expressed confidence that locally produced vaccines would play a pivotal role in addressing Nigeria’s unique health needs.

    In addition to vaccines, NIMR is intensifying research into chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and aggressive forms of breast cancer prevalent among people of African descent. 

    Read Also: NIMR: Joy As Salako bows out in glory

    The institute is investigating environmental and genetic factors contributing to these conditions, with the aim of developing targeted interventions.

    NIMR is also advancing its efforts in genetic screening for children, focusing on the early diagnosis and treatment of genetically determined diseases. 

    This initiative is expected to improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of preventable illnesses.

    The institute has strengthened partnerships with local health agencies such as the Institute of Human Virology, Lagos State Government, and others to combat diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, and cholera. 

    Prof. Obafunwa noted NIMR’s recent role in analyzing cholera samples, which contributed to the containment of a recent outbreak. 

    Although the institute’s role is primarily in laboratory analysis rather than field intervention, its contributions are critical to disease control efforts.

    Prof. Obafunwa emphasized the need for a cultural shift within the institute, urging researchers to prioritize integrity and service delivery. 

    He called for greater collaboration between senior and junior staff, fostering a harmonious work environment that enhances efficiency and innovation.

    “Our goal is to position NIMR as a central player in addressing Nigeria’s health challenges through local research and innovations,” he said. “This will not only improve public health outcomes but also contribute to global solutions.”

    With its renewed focus on tackling infectious and chronic diseases, genetic research, and vaccine development, NIMR is set to play a pivotal role in improving Nigeria’s healthcare landscape by 2025.

  • NIMR: Joy As Salako bows out in glory

    NIMR: Joy As Salako bows out in glory

    • By Sunday Saanu

    After eight years in office as Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof. Babatunde Lawal Salako will be bowing out of office next Tuesday 23 July, 2024 with a remarkable chain of glittering achievements. When he was appointed in 2016, little did the pundits know that his appointment was for a mission: a mission of destiny reconstruction, infrastructural development, reformation, and global visibility of the Institute.

    Today, the imposing modern administrative edifice, with the state-of-the-art facilities situated within the serene environment of NIMR is to say the least, a visible testimony to the sagaciousness of Prof. Salako’s leadership qualities. The building which had been abandoned for many years before Prof. Salako’s appointment, attracted the attention of the DG who mobilized men and materials towards the completion of the edifice. Prof. Salako, like present-day mythical king Midas soon turned around waste to wealth and transformed rubbles to bubbles. The edifice is now a cynosure of all eyes, with many wondering if it is government establishment or foreign building. United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken stepped into the edifice and applauded Prof. Salako’s innovativeness and taste.

    Awaken from trances of limitation, Prof. Salako who was the Provost, College of Medicine of University of Ibadan before he was appointed decided to change the hitherto extreme drone of dreariness of NIMR with a lot of creativity, leveraging on his experience and exposure as a UI Professor of Medicine. The NIMR staff members bought into vision and supported him. Today, the staff members are luxuriating in the comforts provided by the ingenuity and enterprises of their cosmopolitan leader.

    Indeed, for years to come, ripples will remain to  remind the nation that Prof. Salako was once in NIMR with an uncommon records of creative leadership fecundity which renewed the workers’ world and reconstructed their career paths. They really appreciate what he has been able to do for them. They are thus celebrating the graciousness of his manner and appreciating the generosity of his feeling. They see him as a transcendental icon who deserves to be celebrated. Consequently, arrangements have been made to really celebrate him next Tuesday in NIMR before he finally takes leave of them.

    But what does Prof. Salako himself consider as the highlight of his achievements in the last eight years? Hear him in an interview conducted by this writer: “One of my major achievements is the people – oriented policy that I executed. I established linkage and collaboration with universities nationally and internationally. We made arrangements in which those who have PhDs and MDs in the Institute can function as act as adjunct lecturers in those universities. And those universities, within their system can promote them along the academic ladder, such that they can become professors in those universities. And, this is quite encouraging to the academics here. They now know that they have a career and they can become professors in the university even while working in NIMR. So far, we have had the first set of appointed professors. With this, research environment came alive, and everybody became more  interested in their works with this arrangement”

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          “Hitherto, they were all moving to universities. Even people we trained to get Ph.D while working here. Once they got their Ph.D, they left because there was no career progression. But now, they know that they can stay here, they can have linkage with the universities, they can become Professors. Before those in the universities used to look down on them. That has practically disappeared. Research Institutes in Nigeria are beginning to look at our arrangement and are interested in copying it. The beauty of it is that the professors are not appointed by NIMR. They are appointed by the universities. They are in no way lower in quality. This is one of reasons the academic staff here have remained, because their academic ambition can be realized”

         For the non – academic staff, a majority of them have now started to  do Ph.D because the environment is conducive. People want to change career and also stay within the system. Currently, we have many people running Ph.D programme, both within and abroad. We also support them financially. With this arrangement, 10 to 12 people have got their Ph.D while many other people are on their Ph.D programme.

    We have recreated the system and the Institute. This arrangement has come to stay. It must be kept in perpetuity. It does not just boost the image of the NIMR, it helps the capacity of the Institute as well as boosting the contribution of the NIMR to national development.

    Still reflecting on his achievements in the last eight years, Prof. Salako hinted that he would never forget the day NIMR carried out genetic sequencing of the index COVID-19 case that earned the country international commendation. “It was the first in Nigeria and by extension in Africa. This institution was the first to do that in Africa.

    It went viral. We got recognized. We got phone calls from BBC, I attended BBC interview, the voice of America, many foreign journalists called in, sent in mails, they wanted to know about it and how we were fairing with it. This is a kind of contribution a research institute should be making. Our laboratory got listed as HIV drug resistant testing laboratory, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). Our laboratory got listed as 8th in the world that does testing for the WHO Diagnostic Kit testing”

     Prof. Salako is indeed a legendary leader who in 21st century world takes charge of the right value paradigm for transformation, sustainability, effective and relevant partnerships, as well as processes and procedures that ensure and preserve best practices. His strength has been tested and his performances have been proven. What he met on ground when he was appointed ignited within him, a consuming passion to make a difference in the world. As a medical wonk, he ground his policies in philosophical, yet, pragmatic contexts in order to achieve desired results. Clearly, his achievements have raised public profile of NIMR, giving it a global visibility.

     According to him, “When I got here, I knew how this place was. My office as Provost of College of Medicine, UI, was very beautiful. I got here, I found myself in one ramshackle office. It was not even up to 25% quality of where I was coming from.

    One of my uncles came to see me and shouted “what type of dungeon do they give you here as office?” I told myself, “I have been appointed to come and make a change. If I meet it in a bad shape, my duty is to make it better. That was how I set out to complete this edifice. In the last two and a half year, when people enter here, they say “wow, this is befitting. People say, thank you for doing this for Nigeria.

    When people from outside the country come to see me and they enter this office, they marvel. You can see a foreigner, Oyinbo man, bowing at the entrance, because of the quality of this environment and the ambience of the office. The environment we have created has impacted on our image”

     “The way students flood the Institute on a daily basis is amazing. I get request on a daily basis from people who want to come and spend three or four months here for research. They want to use our lab and facilities. We have created an environment where they will get the knowledge they require. The ambience here is scientific and university – like. Before, it was only the DG who was a Professor, today we have professors virtually in all our departments. No professor comes from outside and looks down on us again. This bulding was abandoned for 12years. I picked it up from internal finishing. They had already roofed it and plastered it. I started with ties, electricity, ceiling, equipment, painting furniture. It is one building I love to enter myself. When you enter this building, you probably forget that you are in Nigeria. It doesn’t look like government establishment. It is made possible by the contribution of the staff”

    But where did Prof. Salako get money to do all these? He stated, “Covid was one of our saving graces. Covid benefitted the health system in a way. Now, every state has molecular lab. If there is an outbreak and how to cope, we should be able to do it better than we had done before. At least there are 4 or 5 sequencing centres  in Nigeria that were supported by government or by development partner during Covid. They are still functioning. For us we got about N3billion from government and that practically changed the face of NIMR. We had hundreds of equipment that we hadn’t had before. ​In the next 15 years, NIMR is unlikely to be in want of important equipment for research or outbreak response. We used that opportunity to do so many things. We built labs, renovated some, we bought field vehicles. Departments didn’t have vehicles when I got here; in the research institute, whereas research is done in the communities . They used to use their private vehicle or rent buses. Covid gave us the opportunity to get research field vehicles. All departments are now independent of the pool. They don’t have to go to the pool and be begging for vehicle. We built a clinical trial. We have bio – banking. We helped country to test over 60,000 individuals”

    Prof. Salako is a man with a gallant and emphatetic personality which enables him to straddle easily across religious, social and educational barriers to access the hearts of all cadres of people. He serves humanity with humility. A man of zest and zeal who remains dutiful and dedicated.This country must find a way to continue to utilize his prodigious energy and fertile mind for national development. As he bows out with his head held high, one can only pray that God rewards him for his patriotic service.

    • Saanu (08034073427) is with Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo on sabbatical. Email: sundaysaanu@gmail.com
  • NIMR partners to curb infant mortality

    NIMR partners to curb infant mortality

    By Omolara Akintoye 

    The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has announced a significant achievement in its Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin, (SARMAAN) project, saying about 1.4 million children under the age of five have been administered with Azithromycin.

    Azithromycin is a safe and effective medication recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to combat high childhood mortality rates.

    The programme targets areas with under-five mortality exceeding 80 per 1,000 births and infant mortality surpassing 60 per 1,000 births.

    Speaking during an engagement meeting with the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, the Director-General of NIMR, Prof Babatunde Salako, also announced that the first phase of the project has ended in six pilot states while the second one has begun.

    He said the Federal Government believes that such studies should be tested and if it gives the same result, it should be adopted.

    Salako said NIMR, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with the Federal Ministry of Health, among other stakeholders have concluded the study in six pilot states where infant mortality is more than 60 per cent, in quite several states in the north and a few down south.

    “The first phase looked at antimicrobial resistance that may follow the use of basic azithromycin because if we can drop mortality but increase antimicrobial resistance, that will not be good for the country.” said Prof. Salako.

    He said there was also the need to find out how the antimicrobial resistance behaves while mass administration of Azithromycin is on-going.

    “We found out that there was not an increase as expected, rather a little reduction and then it remained flat. Now seeing that, we thought we should now try to answer the mortality issue.” He said the second phase of the study would focus on mortality reduction in the country.

    Salako revealed that the Minister of State for health because the Federal Ministry of Health is expected to use the study as a policy to reduce infant mortality in Nigeria.

    Giving insight into the SARMAAN project, the Principal Investigator of the project, Professor Oliver Ezechi confirmed that early results in the pilot states suggest Azithromycin is reducing infant mortality.

    Ezechi, who is also the Head of Research at NIMR, said the project was part of the global efforts to prevent childhood mortality alongside other existing child survival interventions.

    He said the mass administration of the drugs showed an 18 per cent reduction in child mortality in studies conducted in Niger, Tanzania, and the Benin Republic.

    According to Ezechi, the study by NIMR was to show that what those studies supported in the other countries were true through the SARMAAN project in Abia, Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano, Sokoto, Akwa Ibom states.

    “We did that in the last two years. We covered over 3.4 million children and the total of those given for this purpose was over 4 million doses. We’re able to show that this drug is safe in children”

    He said out of the 1.4 million children who took the drug, only less than 2 per cent actually reported side effect.

    “What are the side effects they reported? It is common for children who report the refusal of food because of the taste of the drug, some stewed, that’s just general. We are also able to show that because when you introduce antibiotics to your population, you can generate what we call antimicrobial resistance. We want to show that you are not trying to do something and creating another problem.”

    “Every six months, we will measure the antimicrobial resistance. We are sure that instead of going up, it was going down. So that means in the two safety parameters we measure, this drug is very good.

     “We also calculated what they call cost-effectiveness. We realised that it was cost-effective. Again, we interviewed parents in those communities, health workers, and government workers, who also admitted that the drug is good.”

    He announced that they have rolled out SARMAAN 11 which covers under five children. “We will enrol 600 to 700 people offering direct service. They will be paid, apart from the policy aspect of the result, we’re also generating employment, building capacity. also going to train them.

    He said the SARMAAN 11 project was an expansion of the project. “We are giving the drugs to only children less than one. We are now expanding to children less than five years old. Because we demonstrated that it’s safe, we’re expanding that so that we’re able to cover up and prevent death.”

    According to Prof. Ezechi, SARMAAN 1 reported about 99 per cent coverage.

  • NIMR, US varsity donate cervical cancer screening equipment to 10 hospitals

    NIMR, US varsity donate cervical cancer screening equipment to 10 hospitals

    The Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in collaboration with Dr. Lisa Flowers of Emory University, U.S has donated advanced equipment to 10 hospitals for use in cervical cancer screening.

    The equipment include video colposcopy, thermo coagulator kits, loop electrosurgical excision procedure machine, and Evalyn Brushes for self-sample collection.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in Nigeria, 23 to 28 women die daily of cervical cancer in Nigeria.

    The benefitting hospitals are the Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital, Kano; Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki;  Ebonyi, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara; and Federal University of Health Sciences, Benue State.

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    Others are: The Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos State; University Teaching Hospital, ⁠Island Maternity, Lagos, St Kizito Clinic, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Anambra and NIMR HIV Treatment Centre.

    Speaking during the donation, the Director-General, NIMR, Prof. Babatunde Salako, said the equipment would help to improve the capacity for the testing of cervical cancer in Nigeria.

    Salako said some health personnel from the hospitals were trained for three days on how to use the equipment.

  • NIMR engages youths in creative approaches to enhance community health

    NIMR engages youths in creative approaches to enhance community health

    By Omolara Akintoye 

    No fewer than 140 creative and innovative youths between 19 and 24 have gathered in Lagos to address the scourges of hypertension, hepatitis B, cervical cancer and related diseases, believed to be among the leading causes of deaths in the country today.

    Holding at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Yaba, Lagos, the initiative leverages the power of innovations and community-driven approaches to enhance public health.

    Director General of NIMR, Prof. Babatunde Salako, explained the idea of the ‘Mega Designathon” event came about following findings that homegrown solutions remain the best strategy for tackling public health issues.

    He said: ”As we delve into the intricacies of the Mega Designathon, we are met with four distinct yet interconnected projects, and poised to impact Nigeria’s health landscape profoundly. 

    “The first project focuses on cervical cancer and HPV -related cancers -a scourge that continues to claim the lives of far too many Nigerian women and girls.

    ” Through interactive approaches and community driven initiative, we aim to increase HPV vaccination uptake and promote early screening, aligning with the ambition 90-70-90 cervical cancer elimination initiative.

    “The second project shines a light on liver cancer and hepatitis B – a battle that rages on despite global advancements. By engaging mothers and families in prevention services and leveraging the power of outreach programs, we strive to improve vaccination coverage and curb the transmission of this deadly virus.

    “The third project echoes the sentiments of the second project, emphasizing the importance of HPV vaccination uptake among newborns. Through collaborative efforts and human centered designs ,we aim to pave the way for a healthier future for future generations.

    “The last project – a call for action for our youths, our future leaders, to take the reins in the fight against HIV. With a focus on sustaining prevention programs and promoting youth -friendly sermons,this project empowers young minds to derive meaningful change within their communities”.

     According to Salako, at the end of the day, the groups with the best idea will be selected for future events where they will be camped for one month and enjoy the privilege of working with renowned medical researchers, policymakers, and others to perfect the ideas.

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    While advocating the need for the government to establish special funding for medical research to effectively address public health challenges in the country, he stressed the determination of his institute to collaborate with reputable organizations globally in championing innovative programs like the Mega Designathon.

    “The project core team, consisting of researchers from the institute, Washington State University and the University of North Carolina, has conducted a series of Designathons during the implementation of ITEST and ACCESS -HPV projects. However, this is the first time in the institute and in Nigeria, a Designathon of this magnitude is being organized in one event. 

    A total of 140 persons were selected out of over 1000 who applied to be part of this Designathon. 

    A  Principal investigator of the initiative,  Prof Oliver Ezechi, said the project is a learning point that Nigerians who are studying abroad should be patriotic enough to use the knowledge and experience acquired to improve their country. 

    Ezechi noted that since its debut five years ago, the project has produced world-class professionals with this year’s edition holding greater prospects. 

    Oliver is the Chief Leader, and co-principal contact for the 4 communities and 4YBY Groups, leading the local coordination of research and planning through the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Network. 

    Dr. Juliet Iwelunmor, from Washington State University, who was born and brought up in Lagos, tasked Nigerians to use their ingenuity to improve the health conditions of the country.

     Iwelunmor also encouraged those in the entertainment industry including musicians and comedians to beam searchlight on the major terminal diseases in the country, to raise awareness about them, thereby reducing mortality. 

    A passionate advocate for health equity and sustainability, Dr. Iwelunmor is widely regarded for understanding how to make evidence-based interventions last, reshaping the focus on community engagement using participatory research, and improving the dissemination of health information.

    The Mega Designathon is jointly Organised by four National Institute of Health- funded projects in collaboration with the Lagos State Government and other national and International institutions.

    Some of the participants with the organisers