Enhancing the nation's health indicators through homemade innovations

Enhancing the nation's health indicators through homemade innovations - NIMR Foundation's stance

The 2025 edition of the Grantmanship and Mentorship Training Programme (GMTP) organised by the NIMR Foundation is currently underway in Lagos. This programme, aimed at developing the next generation of researchers, has been ongoing since its inception in 2022.

Over the years, the training for the GMTP has been continuously refined to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare sector. This refinement has been driven largely by feedback from participants, implementation lessons, and innovative ideas gleaned from similar programs. The focus remains on developing quality researchers who will influence healthcare policies and practices in Nigeria, with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes for Nigerians.

Since its inception, a total of 120 researchers from universities and research institutions across the country have benefited from the GMTP. This year's edition, with 29 researchers participating, is no exception. The NIMR Foundation, a private, non-profit organization established by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in 2018 and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in February 2020, is responsible for organising the GMTP.

The NIMR Foundation has the mandate to build and expand capacity for translational research among early career investigators. This is in line with the foundation's aim to promote innovation, development, and commercialization of homegrown medicines, vaccines, and technologies to address Nigeria's health challenges.

Dr Olajide Sobande, the Executive Director of the NIMR Foundation, emphasized the need for homegrown solutions to Nigeria's health challenges through research. He stated that it is time for Nigeria to fund its own healthcare research to improve the health system and ensure better outcomes for Nigerians.

The current health challenges in Nigeria include growing communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases responsible for high morbidity and mortality rates. The recent withdrawal of a significant amount of U.S. funding on health globally is a concern. However, the NIMR Foundation's efforts, through the GMTP, are aimed at addressing these challenges and improving the health indices of the nation.

The logical framework of the GMTP has been refined to achieve the broad aim of improving health outcomes for Nigerians. The programme seeks to improve the capacity of early career researchers selected from across the country, with the hope that these researchers will contribute significantly to the healthcare sector in Nigeria.

Despite the brain drain of healthcare workers from Nigeria in search of better opportunities, the NIMR Foundation's initiatives are a step towards retaining and developing homegrown talent in the healthcare sector. The GMTP, with its focus on developing quality research that can influence healthcare policies and practices, is a beacon of hope for a healthier and more self-reliant Nigeria.

Enhancing the nation's health indicators through homemade innovations - NIMR Foundation's stance