Nimr’s Extensive Research Programs, Advanced Laboratories And Locally Produced Diagnostic Kits Create A Solid Foundation For Addressing Nigeria’s Health Challenges – Prof Oladapo Obafunwa
Prof. Oladapo Obafunwa took the helm at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in August 2024, charting a new course for Nigeria’s health research landscape. In an exclusive interview with The Guardian in response to the recognition of the institute, the renowned Professor of Forensic Pathology shares the institute’s renewed vision and its impact on the nation’s healthcare trajectory.
Can you introduce yourself and highlight your experience that qualifies you for the Director-General role at NIMR?
I am Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, a physician, anatomic and forensic pathologist, and healthcare leader with over 45 years of medical practice spanning service academic medicine, pathology, forensic science, and public health. I obtained my MBBS degree from theCollege of Medicine of the University of Lagos in March 1980 and hold fellowships from the Royal College of Pathologists (UK), the West African College of Physicians, the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College, and the Irish College of Pathologists; in addition, I hold the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of London, in Forensic and Legal Medicine, among other numerous qualifications.
It is noteworthy that I hold a postgraduate MD in Pathology from the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, and a Ph.D in Applied Ecology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, applying the sciences of Forensic Entomology and Taphonomy, to Forensic Pathology. It is also noteworthy that pathology is the study of diseases, and therefore its importance to the activities of the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research is quite apparent.
My professional experience includes being the first Chief Medical Examiner for Lagos State (2007-2015), being responsible for managing coroner investigations which included mass fatality responses for notable incidents. I served as the Provost of the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja (2006-2010) and as the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (2011-2015). I have published over 140 peer-reviewed articles in various fields related to pathology. I also hold a Law degree LL.B.) from the University of Northumbria, UK.
As the new Director-General of NIMR, I am dedicated to advancing Nigeria’s health research by enhancing our capabilities in disease surveillance, diagnostics, and translational research. I believe that collaboration and innovation are key to addressing Nigeria’s health challenges and contributing to national development.
What is the mission, vision and mandate of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research?
The NIMR, established in 1920 as the West African Council of Medical Research, is Nigeria’s leading national health research institution. Its primary purpose is to research into communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) to generate knowledge, develop treatment guidelines, and recommend prevention strategies for improved public health.
NIMR has become a center of excellence in basic, applied, and operational research, focusing on generating and disseminating biomedical knowledge to address Nigeria’s health challenges. The Institute fosters collaboration with the Ministry of Health, universities, the private sector, and international partners. I appreciate the various contributions of my predecessors in office.
Our vision is to be recognized as an institution of excellence for high-quality research that promotes health and development in Nigeria. Our Mission is to conduct research on diseases of public health importance, develop effective dissemination structures, and provide essential facilities for health research and training.
Our core values include honesty, leadership, teamwork, innovation, hard work, and transparency. Through adherence to these values, NIMR is dedicated to advancing science, improving health outcomes, and fostering collaboration and societal impact.
What are your strategic priorities for the NIMR over the next four years?
As the Director-General of this institute, I have evaluated the current strategic plan (2022 -2026), and we are defining our strategic priorities for 2026–2030, which is focusing on impactful research that aligns with Nigeria’s development goals.
Our plan is structured around five key thematic areas:
Strengthening governance and leadership: We will enhance transparent and accountable leadership structures to promote innovation and efficient resource management.
Driving health research for sustainable national development: Our focus will be on high-impact research addressing public health challenges, including non-communicable diseases (hypertension, diabetes, and cancers) and infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, upper airway respiratory diseases, Hepatitis, Dengue and Lassa fever). We will also prioritize maternal and child health, neglected tropical diseases, and emerging health threats, generating evidence to inform effective interventions and policies.
Enhancing infrastructure and resource support: We will upgrade and expand research infrastructure, to include a National Medicolegal Research Centre to promote research and bring proactiveness into the forensic environment.
Promoting innovation and research translation: Our aims include developing new diagnostics, and health technologies, as well as creating pathways to translate research findings into practical solutions and commercial opportunities.
Building a collaborative research ecosystem: We will strengthen collaborations with government agencies, universities, and international institutions to promote joint research and capacity development, ensuring our competitiveness in the global research arena.
This strategic direction supports Nigeria’s health priorities and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu. By 2030, we envision NIMR as a leading institution in health research and innovation, dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all Nigerians.
What are the research programs, innovations and facilities you have encountered at the institute since you became the DG, that will serve as a foundation for plan for the Institute in the next four years?
Since becoming Director General, I have identified impactful research programs, innovations, and facilities that will serve as a foundation for the next four years. These include research on infectious diseases, malaria, non-communicable diseases, genomics, environmental health, and maternal and child health.
We have also developed diagnostic technologies, including rapid test kits, and advanced genomic laboratories. Our facilities include a Clinical Research Centre, Clinical Trial Centre, core laboratories, and ISO-accredited laboratories. These assets position us well for future growth.
NIMR’s extensive research programs, advanced laboratories and locally produced diagnostic kits create a solid foundation for addressing Nigeria’s health challenges. Our goal is to enhance self-reliance in diagnostics and ensure health solutions are affordable and accessible for all Nigerians.
How will your research agenda impact the everyday lives of ordinary Nigerians?
Nigeria faces significant health challenges, reflected in low life expectancy (around 55 years), high maternal mortality rates (approximately 900 deaths per 100,000 live births), and an infant mortality rate averaging 60 per 1,000 live births.
A mixed epidemic of communicable diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and endemic infections like Lassa fever, combined with a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension, kidney diseases and cancer, exacerbates the healthcare crisis and disrupts livelihoods.
These issues lead to devastating realities for families, with many losing breadwinners and children missing education due to preventable illnesses. Addressing these requires targeted, evidence-based interventions.
My leadership at NIMR will emphasize generating locally relevant evidence to influence health policies and develop affordable diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics for Nigeria’s diverse settings.
Research will focus on early detection of infectious diseases, prevention strategies for NCDs, and improving maternal and child health through enhanced care and education.
Additionally, tackling environmental health issues and occupational hazards will require data-driven policies for safer practices. NIMR will leverage its capacity to produce local diagnostic kits and treatments, reducing dependence on imports and improving accessibility.
How will your institute’s work support the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the four pillars outlined by the Honourable Minister of Health?
The proposed institute’s strategic plan for 2026–2030 aligns with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Honourable Minister of Health’s four pillars, ensuring our research supports national health priorities in key areas:
Universal Health Coverage (UHC): We will generate locally relevant evidence to expand access to quality healthcare for underserved populations by developing affordable diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics, thus informing policies that remove barriers to healthcare.
Health Security: Our emphasis on epidemic preparedness hope to use facilities like the Biosafety Level 3 laboratory and genomic sequencing to enhance early detection and response capabilities for infectious diseases, strengthening national health security.
Health System Strengthening: Our comprehensive infrastructure including ISO-accredited labs and specialized clinics supports the development of data systems, training health professionals, and improving diagnostics, equipping Nigeria’s health system for effective service delivery.
Health Innovation: We are committed to creating new health technologies and solutions that address Nigeria’s challenges, aligning with the Minister’s vision for research-driven entrepreneurship and technological advancement.
By integrating the institute’s strategic plan with national priorities, we hope to enhance the impact of our efforts in reducing disease burden, improving health outcomes, and promoting economic development, ultimately realizing the aspirations of President Tinubu’s administration.
What specific research initiatives will you prioritize to address the health challenges faced by common Nigerians?
Nigeria faces a dual burden of infectious diseases and rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs), necessitating targeted research initiatives. One priority is conducting comprehensive burden of disease studies to provide accurate data on diseases burden in areas of non-communicable diseases, maternal and infant mortality, cancers, and infectious diseases, which will guide necessary interventions.
For instance, understanding disease burden will inform improvements in preventive care and health education strategies. We will also continue to strengthen the efforts in the development affordable and reliable diagnostics endemic diseases, and emerging threats, including point-of-care tools for low-resource settings.
We will also focus on implementation science to test proven interventions, such as community health worker-led screenings, tailored to Nigeria’s context. Another area of priority is research into traditional medicinal preparations. We have embarked on such studies through alliances with private individuals and university.
Overall, our research will generate actionable evidence aimed at informing policies and clinical practices, ultimately striving to save lives through innovative solutions addressing Nigeria’s pressing health challenges.
How do you plan to secure funding to implement the research initiatives you have eloquently articulated, and to ensure the NIMR sustain its current activities?
Addressing Nigeria’s multitude of health challenges requires that research and innovation be given their rightful place at the forefront of our national development agenda. While research is essential for developing effective solutions, it is also resource intensive.
Recognizing that Nigeria’s financial resources are finite, it is imperative that we adopt a strategic approach to funding by diversifying our sources and exploring innovative financing models. Our plan involves actively engaging governments, to advocate for increased budgetary allocations for research.
Simultaneously, we will seek partnerships with international donors, development agencies, and global health organizations to complement domestic funding. Recognizing the vital role of the private sector, we will explore collaborations with private companies, industry players, and philanthropic foundations, emphasizing the value of research-driven economic empowerment.
We will also prioritize exploring alternative funding avenues such as patenting innovations, licensing technologies, and commercializing research outputs. This approach not only provides a revenue stream but also promotes local entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and job creation.
Establishing a dedicated innovation fund or venture capital platform to support start-ups and spin-offs from our research findings will further enhance sustainability. To ensure long-term financial stability, we will develop comprehensive funding plans that include grant applications, private sector sponsorships, public-private partnerships, and revenue-generating services such as consultancy, training, and diagnostic kits.
We will also advocate for policy reforms that incentivize local investment in health research and innovation. In addition, we will pursue the creation of patent portfolios and explore opportunities for commercialization of products and solutions developed at NIMR, turning research into marketable health technologies.
These steps will not only generate income but also position Nigeria as a hub for health innovation and research excellence. Finally, we intend to work closely with NIMR Foundation to achieve some of these goals, especially with regards to attracting private funding for research.
