By Mercy Gadia
The Federal Government, in collaboration with local and international stakeholders, has intensified efforts to reposition Africa from a data-extraction hub to a centre of scientific innovation capable of delivering health solutions and driving economic growth.
This call was made on Monday in Abuja by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, at the SPARK Translational Research Boot Camp and Conference 2026.
The conference was jointly organised by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, SPARK Global at Stanford University, and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, a programme under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Speaking in his keynote address, Pate said Africa must urgently strengthen translational research systems to ensure that scientific discoveries are converted into practical solutions that improve lives and stimulate economic development.
He said, “We are living through an era of pandemics, economic shocks, technological disruption and demographic transitions. At such a moment, scientific inquiry and evidence-based policymaking are not optional; they are essential.”
The minister noted that while global progress in life expectancy, disease control and medical innovation has been driven by science, such gains remain fragile, citing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic which exposed weaknesses in global supply chains, economies and governance systems.
He identified rapid population growth, the rising burden of non-communicable diseases and fast-paced technological change as pressing challenges facing Africa, stressing that research-driven solutions are critical to addressing them.
Pate expressed concern that Africa still accounts for only a small fraction of global research funding and output, with most studies funded and designed outside the continent.
“These risks position Africa as a perpetual extraction hub for data and knowledge,” he said, adding that deliberate investments are needed in local research ecosystems, including clinical trials, regulatory capacity and science governance.
He explained that Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reforms under President Bola Tinubu are anchored on scientific evidence, with priorities including research governance, regulatory strengthening, healthcare delivery expansion, health security and unlocking the healthcare value chain.
In his remarks, Co-Director of SPARK at Stanford University and Vice President of SPARK Global, Prof. Kevin Grimes, said the programme was designed to help African researchers translate high-quality science into products and services that benefit patients and society.
“African scientists are as capable as any in the world. What they often lack is structured support and access to industry expertise. That is the gap SPARK is designed to fill,” Grimes said.
He added that the SPARK model, which pairs academic researchers with industry mentors, has helped build innovative ecosystems in other regions and holds strong potential for Africa.
Earlier, the Director-General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, said the conference was aimed at bridging the gap between science, policy and impact-driven innovation.
“No matter how brilliant you are, if policy does not understand the priority of what you are doing, you will not make an impact,” Adigwe said, stressing the importance of political will in advancing scientific research.
He disclosed that the conference, which attracted between 60 and 70 participants from across Africa, was the outcome of over 18 months of planning with Stanford University partners.
Adigwe warned that science is facing global pressure from funding cuts, misinformation and declining political commitment, urging researchers to remain resilient and engaged with societal needs.
“It is why translational research is so important. It ensures that scientific intellect delivers real solutions that change lives,” he said.
In a symbolic gesture, participants at the conference endorsed Pate as a Global Ambassador for Translational Research.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking Healthcare Value Chain, Dr. Abdul Mukhtar, described research and development as the foundation of Nigeria’s healthcare reform agenda.
“When we talk about the healthcare value chain, the foundation is research and development. You cannot move into manufacturing, discovery, marketing or bedside care without strong R&D,” Mukhtar said.
He lamented that Africa accounts for only about two per cent of global R&D spending, stressing the need to link research output to finance and commercialisation.
“Many groundbreaking studies never move beyond academic journals. Science and medicine ultimately exist to save lives,” he said.
Mukhtar said the Presidential Initiative, established in 2023 by President Tinubu, has adopted an ecosystem approach by strengthening clinical trials, human capital development, supply chains and market access.
“Our ambition is to make Nigeria a hub for local manufacturing of essential medicines for Africa. But to achieve this, we must also lead in basic science research and development,” he added.
Stakeholders at the conference agreed that strengthening translational research and science communication is critical to counter anti-science narratives and ensure research findings translate into measurable health and economic gains.
The boot camp was formally declared open with renewed commitment from the Federal Government and partners to support research, innovation and clinical trials as part of efforts to position Nigeria and Africa as active contributors to global scientific advancement.