The National Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training (NCESRTA) at the Yakubu Gowon University has introduced a 12-week intensive programme designed to strengthen local capacity in conducting clinical trials for sickle cell disease (SCD).
Backed by IQVIA in partnership with Bio Ventures for Global Health, the programme, which runs from September 18 to November 27, 2025, aims to equip Nigerian researchers and healthcare professionals to engage in pioneering clinical trials.
Participants will undergo hands-on training covering key aspects of clinical research, including trial design, patient recruitment, data management, regulatory compliance, and ethical standards.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the training in Abuja on Thursday, the Director of NCESRTA, Professor Obiageli Nnodu, said by focusing on both theoretical knowledge and practical application, the programme seeks to create a new generation of experts who can lead clinical studies within Nigeria and across Africa.
She said sickle cell disease remains one of the most prevalent genetic blood disorders in sub-Saharan Africa and a leading cause of mortality among children under five and young adults.
The training, she said, was designed to address this gap by equipping healthcare workers with the tools to engage in global trials, noting that the programme is not aimed at testing a specific treatment but rather at strengthening the overall capacity of clinical sites.
“We are not targeting any specific treatment. What we are doing is strengthening the capacity of healthcare workers and clinical sites to participate in future trials in sickle cell disease. Once you have that training, the skills can also be applied to other areas such as oncology, hypertension, diabetes, and pulmonary diseases,” she said.
Prof. Nnodu explained that the training will be delivered virtually with weekly interactive sessions facilitated by clinical trial experts, regulatory professionals, and financial specialists, with emphasis on practical application.
The University Don revealed that interests have extended beyond Nigeria, with participants from Sudan, Zambia, and other countries also registering.
She further explained that one of the outcomes of the training will be a paper documenting the challenges of conducting clinical trials in resource-limited settings, drawing from experiences at NCESRTA and other SPARC-Net sites.
“The long-term goal is sustainability. This is about building homegrown expertise. If Nigeria can run its own high-quality trials, we can deliver more effective, patient-centred care for sickle cell disease and ultimately save more lives,” she added.
Similarly, Head of Clinical Trials at the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Beno Yakubu, underscored the agency’s critical responsibility in safeguarding the integrity of research by ensuring that all clinical trial protocols are not only aligned with Nigeria’s regulatory requirements but also conform to internationally recognised standards.
Yakubu highlighted that this dual-level oversight is essential for protecting the health and safety of participants, promoting scientific credibility, and fostering global acceptance of locally conducted trials.
