LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof. Oladapo Obafunwa, has raised concerns over the institute’s heavy reliance on foreign donors, which fund about 95% of their research.
According to Prof. Obafunwa, this dependence on foreign donors means that research priorities are often dictated by external interests rather than local health needs.
“We need to recalibrate and focus a lot more on issues pertaining to our health conditions.
“This is why the government and legislators need to approve more funding for local research, focusing on pressing health issues such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease,” he said.
Prof. Obafunwa who spoke during a media chat with journalists in Lagos noted that NIMR is well-equipped to tackle these challenges, with skilled researchers and facilities to develop diagnostic kits and vaccines.
“We are fully prepared, and we have researchers who are in the position to develop primers and all the diagnosis kits for it,” Prof. Obafunwa emphasized.
Power Challenge
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However, the institute faces significant challenges, including a reliable power supply which is one of the major need of the institute.
Prof. Obafunwa lamented the difficulties posed by the Eko electricity distribution company, which has failed to provide a meter or repair damaged panels despite repeated requests.
“The problem NIMR has is with the Eko electricity distribution company.
“When you hear statements like, ‘we will shut you down, we will disconnect you,’ you will start wondering, is it that people don’t understand what it means? NIMR has no meter up till now. Letters have been written four times asking for the so-called damaged panel to be repaired but nothing has happened,” Prof. Obafunwa explained.
To mitigate this issue, he said NIMR is exploring alternative energy sources, including solar power. Prof. Obafunwa thanked one of the institute’s principal investigators who has sourced funds to install inverters with solar panels.
Saying despite these challenges, he remains optimistic about NIMR’s potential to drive meaningful research and improve public health outcomes in Nigeria, Prof Obafunwa appealed to the government, legislators, and Nigerians to support NIMR’s efforts to address the country’s unique health challenges.
“We hope that using a forum like this will be able to get NIMR across to not just only the average man on the street, but also legislators who will be charged with the responsibility of funding NIMR. “We need to intensify our research efforts, focusing on local health issues and developing homegrown solutions to address these challenges,” he added
NIMR Outstations
Pro. Oladapo Obafunwa also pledged to resuscitate the institute’s outstations in some parts of the country to broaden its research activities as the nation’s leading research institute charged with the conduct of research on public health issues in Nigeria.
The DG said the outstations in Maiduguri, Borna State, Kainji in Niger State and Asaba, Delta State are currently dormant, apart from that of Delta where some collaborative work is being done with the State Ministry of Health.
“My plan this 2025 is to deploy some very senior researchers to these facilities and get them to be fully functional,” he said.