Fashola, NIMR Call on Private Sector to Fund Medical Research Advancement

Former Lagos State governor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Foundation, Babatunde Fashola, has urged the private sector and Nigerians to contribute funding to drive health innovations and medical research in Nigeria.

Speaking at NIMR’s monthly media chat, Fashola emphasized that the country cannot rely solely on government allocations to finance medical research, stressing that private sector involvement is essential for the institute to fulfil its mandate.

“For NIMR to achieve its objectives, the role of the private sector is crucial in mobilizing resources to complement government funding. The government cannot fund medical research alone,” he said.

Fashola noted that while Nigeria possesses the intellectual capacity for cutting-edge research, financial support is lacking to meet global standards. He warned that without adequate attention, NIMR may struggle to compete with leading research institutes worldwide.

He highlighted how well-funded research has historically transformed human health, citing inventions like eyeglasses and the discovery of penicillin as examples. “Eyeglasses exist because researchers dedicated time and resources to improving human welfare. Discoveries like penicillin significantly increased life expectancy. NIMR must be adequately funded to address Nigeria’s health needs,” he said.

Fashola expressed concern about funding gaps that impede the development of homegrown solutions for diseases prevalent in Africa, such as diabetes, hypertension, and neglected tropical diseases.

He revealed that the NIMR Foundation has mobilized N502 million for the institute—N352 million in donations and N150 million in grants—supporting four cycles of the Grantsmanship and Mentorship Training Programme (GMTP). So far, 120 researchers across Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, have been trained, while 128 researchers, 40% of them women, have secured over $5.3 million in external grants.

Fashola also announced the Foundation’s expansion into maternal and child health research, with plans to support doctoral and postdoctoral projects, fellowships, and other advanced scientific initiatives.

He called for reforms to allow research funds to be kept in dedicated accounts to ensure uninterrupted project execution. “If Nigeria commits to stable funding and adopts accounting practices that do not disrupt research, the national research landscape will see significant improvement,” he said.

In his remarks, NIMR Director-General, Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa, acknowledged that the institute continues to face challenges with inadequate human resources and infrastructure. “Physical infrastructure can be addressed with funding, but building human capital requires sustained, long-term investment,” he said, emphasizing the importance of PhD and postdoctoral training, sabbaticals, and commissioned research.

The Foundation’s Executive Secretary, Olajide Sobande, presented a four-year impact report (2021–2025), noting that assets had grown to N157 million as of September 30, 2025, despite not yet meeting the initial N10 billion fundraising target. He added that N295 million had been disbursed for research and training.

Sobande also disclosed that the Foundation secured a £44,000 grant in 2025 to implement the GMTP without drawing from its principal fund, while 10 research groups are set to receive N25 million in primary research grants.