Lagos: The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Foundation has, since its inception, disbursed N295million for capacity building to enhance early career researchers across the country, says the Chairman of the foundation, Mr Babatunde Fashola.
Fashola, a former Governor of Lagos State, disclosed this during the November NIMR Monthly Media Chat, organised to inform the public about the institute’s research work and findings in Lagos.
Fashola, also a former minister, said the foundation raised N502 million through donations during and after its official inauguration in 2021.
According to him, the funds raised are invested wisely through Trust Management Services Ltd., which has yielded a return of N148.9 million.
He said that 120 researchers had been trained under the flagship Grantsmanship and Mentorship (GMTP) since its inception.
He said the programme has evolved into a 12-month fellowship that integrates online learning, in-person workshops, and structured mentorship.
He said,” Every Kobo donated to the foundation has been judiciously used to build the capacity of early career researchers, and one of our mandates is accountability.
“All members of the NIMR foundation don’t get paid or any kobo from the funds donated to the foundation; instead, we have invested our time and resources to advocate the importance of medical research”.
Fashola said plans were to upscale the foundation’s progress through collaboration with development partners and government to introduce a postdoctoral fellowship, grant awards, and grow its endowment fund.
He highlighted success stories of researchers who had won grants in their respective medical fields, noting that when investment meets talent, the nation would thrive.
The chairman commended the foundation’s board of trustees for advocating and championing the importance of research to society.
In his earlier remarks, Prof. Oladapo Obafunwa, the Director-General of NIMR, highlighted the foundation’s role and its complementarity to the institute’s research.
Obafunwa said the foundation’s activities augmented and accelerated NIMR’s mission and mandate, serving as a significant support organisation to NIMR and providing service functions that enabled NIMR to deliver more effectively.
He said gaps in human resources and infrastructure constrained the institute as the nation’s public health landscape faced a critical challenge, adding that the current institutional platform was insufficient to bridge these gaps at the scale and speed required.
” NIMR is supposed to be the apex medical research body charged with investigating diseases and conditions of public health importance. Gaps in human resources and infrastructure constrain us.
“Physical infrastructure can be addressed with funding, but human capital requires a sustained, long-term approach by strengthening capacity through PhD fellowships, postdoctoral opportunities, sabbatical positions, and others to build a robust science base.
“We need a mechanism that mobilises external resources, engages diverse partners, and strategically develops talent to sustain Nigeria’s research enterprise; these realities set the stage for the NIMR Foundation.
“The foundation, envisioned as a cooperative, public-benefit, non-profit, operates as a sister organisation to NIMR, designed to raise and manage funds specifically for research capacity strengthening”.
The D-G noted that the foundation should maximise impact and complement NIMR’s ongoing works through resource mobilisation, translation and commercialisation, talent development and capacity strengthening for the public.
He commended NIMR as a strategic instrument that magnified the institute’s impact by strengthening human capacity, broadening funding pathways, and fostering meaningful collaborations.
The Executive Director of the Foundation, Dr Olajide Sobande, also made a presentation titled “Four Years of Impact of NIMR Foundation”.
A total of N25 million in cheques was disbursed to various researchers who had undergone the GMTP programme to support the research work they were undertaking.
Other members of the NIMR board of trustees include the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II; Prof. Oni Idigbe, Prof. Oye Gureje, and Mrs Moji Makanjuola.
NIMR Foundation has the mandate to build capacity for translational research among early-career investigators and to promote the innovation, development, and commercialisation of home-grown medicines, vaccines, and technologies to address the health problems of Nigeria, in particular, and Africa at large.
