Blog

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has emphasized the need for increased investment in health research and stronger collaboration with government and international partners to address viral threats and strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for future pandemics.

 This call was made during a press briefing at the IHVN Campus ahead of the 3rd International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) Annual Scientific Symposium International Research, featuring the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum, the Chief Operating Officer/Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah, and the IRCE Executive Director, Professor Alash’le Abimiku.

Speaking at the event, Professor Abimiku explained that this year’s symposium focus is on viral threats to public health. She noted that outbreaks such as COVID-19, diphtheria, and lassa fever continue to challenge the country’s health systems.

“Unless we come together to understand the viruses that put us at risk, we will continue to face repeated outbreaks. The key question remains: if another pandemic hits, are we prepared?” she said. According to her, IHVN’s research examines how viruses change, spread, and impact populations, while also working with policymakers to ensure findings influence national health policies.

Dr. Dakum added that collaboration with government is central to IHVN’s work. From formulating research questions to disseminating results, policymakers are involved to ensure findings translate into real-world solutions. He cited the example of HIV service delivery, where IHVN research on providing services at the community level helped inform the policy of decentralizing HIV care across Nigeria. “If you do not inform policy, you cannot scale up findings beyond research sites,” he noted.

Also at the event, IHVN Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah stressed the need for domestic financing for research, stating, “If health budgets do not allocate at least 10–30% for research, we won’t go far. Implementation without science cannot succeed.” He added that IHVN continues to seek grants, collaborate with local partners, and advocate for private sector involvement in research financing.

Looking ahead, Dr. Mensah announced that IHVN is constructing a 1,000-seater Learning and Development Centre to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange with global researchers. “We want the world to see that we are not just a local organization, but an international institution of excellence,” he said.

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has met with the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako to advocate for strengthened structures and support for research integrity and ethics in Nigeria.

During the visit, the Minister stated his commitment to support initiatives led by the Exploring Excellence in Collaboration, Ethical Conduct and Leadership for Research Integrity through Empowerment (EXCEL RITE) project team and the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC).

He said that “without research integrity, there cannot be ethics,”  and emphasizedthe need for integrity to ensure credible and impactful research outcomes. While acknowledging existing bureaucratic challenges, he encouraged NHREC to seek partnerships with private sector and non-governmental organizations to reduce dependence on federal funding.

Hon. Salako affirmed support for sustaining NHREC’s IT platform and emphasized that research must lead to tangible benefits for the people, not just publications. He also highlighted the government’s interest in phytomedicine research.

Earlier at the meeting, IHVN Chief Operating Officer and Principal Investigator of the EXCEL RITE Project, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah commended the Minister’s dedication to strengthening research ethics, and noted NHREC’s progress under his leadership.

Dr. Mensah requested additional government funding to enhance NHREC’s administrative capacity, sustain its new IT submission portal, currently donor-funded, and expand research integrity initiatives in alignment with the Presidential agenda of positioning Nigeria as a leader in research and innovation. He further proposed creative resource mobilization strategies, including partnerships with the Ministry of Education, TETFUND, and NELFUND.

Dr. Mensah who joined the meeting virtually, led a team of stakeholders including Prof. Oyewale Tomori of the African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Vice Chancellor of UNIMED Ondo, Prof. Ebun Adejuyigbe and EXCEL RITE Project Coordinator, Dr. Nnakelu Eriobu.

Dr. Eriobu presented the EXCEL RITE conference communique to the Minister and noted that while the project’s highlight was the April 28–30, 2025 conference, the initiative goes beyond the event to foster sustained multi-stakeholder engagement to implement the consensus outcomes.

EXCEL RITE Project is funded by the U.S. Office of Research Integrity under the Department of Health and Human Services. He noted

In fostering an excellent work culture and staff performance, the Executive Management of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has initiated the “Employee Recognition Awards” to recognize “Employees of the Month” and “Employee of the Year.”

According to the IHVN Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Olu Alabi, this recognition covers overall employee performance in dressing, innovation, teamwork, productivity, efficiency, leadership and interpersonal skills, punctuality, and adherence to company values and principles, amongst other things.

For July 2025, IHVN celebrates Frances O Njoku, Sussan Israel-Isah, Chukwuma Okibe, Rifkatu Aimu, Ayuba Bathnna, Michael Alonge, Golda Ezeh, Adesola Oluokun, Gabriel Dwagan, Cornelius Gweba and Hamza Gambo Tilde, whose performance stood out in their teams.

Hearty cheers to our July star performers!

To strengthen national and institutional frameworks for research ethics and integrity in Nigeria, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has visited the Premier University of Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State, Nigeria.

During the visit, the IHVN team was led by the Chief Operating Officer and Principal Investigator of the EXCEL RITE Project, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah, who met with the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Professor Oluyemisi A. Bamgbose represented by the Director Research Management Office, Prof. A.S. Jegede.

Dr. Mensah stated that the visit was to advocate for the adoption of recommendations of the communique from the EXCEL-RITE conference held in April 2025. The conference was organized in collaboration with the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) along with other institutions to promote research integrity in the country.

“The reason we came is to advocate for a research integrity office so that students, fellows, post-docs can be supported in fostering a culture of responsible research,” Dr. Mensah said.

He formally presented the conference communique to the University don, alongside a team of research ethics leads from different faculties in the University. In his response, Prof. Jegede said that the university has been in the forefront of capacity building for research ethics in the country.

“The university will be 77 years in November. Presently, we have 33 faculties, two colleges, and 40 departments. The university has been in the forefront of research ethics in West Africa because the grant that established bio-ethics training in West Africa was established in the university.”

He expressed the university’s willingness to collaborate with IHVN to strengthen institutional frameworks for research ethics.

“We already have a structure. The formal organization of a research ethics committee in the country probably started from here. University of Ibadan has supported other institutions to establish their research ethics committees in capacity building and supplies. We are very much supportive of what you are here for,” he said.

Project Coordinator of the EXCEL-RITE Project, Dr. Nnakelu Eriobu said that the visit to the university is the first in a series of planned strategic engagements with institutions, stakeholders and policy makers to facilitate the implementation of recommendations from the Exploring Xcellence in Collaboration, Ethical Conduct and Leadership for Research Integrity through Empowerment (EXCEL RITE) initiative.