Sodiq Ojuroungbe
Public health researchers have raised the alarm that Nigerian scientists are being denied foreign research grants by funders, due to the country’s poor research environment, and outdated equipment.
While lamenting that Nigeria’s research infrastructure and facilities are failing to meet the standards required by international funders, the scholars stated that the lack of a conducive research environment drove potential funders away.
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise, the senior health experts maintained that international research grants were increasingly being pulled from Nigerian health institutions due to deficiencies in the research environment.
A professor of Haematology and Transmission Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Suleimon Akamu cited a case where a planned grant of 20,000 Euros from the United Kingdom was rescinded due to concerns about the quality of research conditions in Nigeria.
The professor of haematology and transfusion medicine with special interests in immunohaematology revealed that the study initiated by the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo, was denied funding due to Nigeria’s unsuitable research environment.
The researcher, who is also a consultant at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital added, “About eight years ago, the CMD of LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo was working on cleft palate with some group. They were working to document for Nigeria and Africa, and the group devised a fantastic proposal.
“They were to be funded by the UK government and the grant was about 20,000 Euros. They started organising meetings both in Nigeria and other African countries. But then the UK people came to Nigeria for what they call a research environment survey. They visited the University of Lagos and some other places, and they said the research environment was not there to bring such money”.
The expert, however, noted that this incident was just one example of many that show how research funding is diverted away from Nigeria.
The don emphasised that a research environment requires certain basic minimums, including skilled researchers, adequate infrastructure, and a biobank for storing biological specimens.
He explained, “A research institute that does not have a funded, well-equipped laboratory cannot conduct research. Funders are looking for institutions that can guarantee responsible conduct of research, and if we don’t have that, they will take their money elsewhere.
“A conducive research environment is essential for securing funding and conducting impactful studies.”
Akamu urged the government to deliberately fund research, citing the example of the United States government, which has allocated $51 billion for research funding in 2024.
He also mentioned other countries like the UK, Netherlands, and Italy, which have established research councils to fund research.
Akanmu stressed that government investment in research will not only support the advancement of science but also position the country as a leader in global biomedical innovations.
Akamu proposed that Nigerian institutions, such as the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, could be pivotal if given adequate funding.
“With sufficient resources, NIMR could fund research proposals from Nigerian universities, fostering local talent and contributing to the global body of scientific knowledge.
“Investing in research is investing in the future of our health and well-being. It is time for Nigeria to prioritise and fund research comprehensively.
“If Nigeria wants to remain competitive and contribute meaningfully to global scientific advancements, it must prioritise and improve its research environment,” he said.
On his part, the immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Prof Babatunde Salako stressed that funding was crucial for health research to move forward in Nigeria.
The don noted that Nigeria needs a health research funding agency to support the country’s health system to provide funding for health researchers who will in turn develop full-grown solutions to the health system.
The researcher stated that the government must establish a funding organisation for health research to bolster its healthcare system and support medical researchers who will subsequently design and develop comprehensive remedies for the country’s healthcare issues.
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