Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, has expressed strong confidence that Africa, including Nigeria, can position itself as a leading global destination for innovative health solutions if sufficient resources and commitment are directed toward science, research, and development.
Speaking at the opening of the 5-Day SPARK Translational Research Boot Camp and Conference in Abuja, Pate emphasized the urgent need for the continent to increase its contribution to global scientific research and innovation.
He called for a deliberate shift from basic scientific discoveries to practical, real-world health interventions, arguing that such a transition could transform Africa into a major hub for health solutions.
Despite Africa’s population of over 1.4 billion and its associated health and development challenges, the continent continues to lag significantly in research efforts aimed at addressing these issues, Pate noted.
He warned that inadequate investment in research would undermine recent gains in healthcare improvement across the country.
“The context is also presently a paradox,” Pate said. “The paradox of us being 1.4 billion, yet accounting for a very significant portion of the global trade, global economy, 1.4 billion, with lots of problems, and yet very little of the scientific inquiry. Doctor Abdul Mukhtar mentioned less than, I believe, one percent, two percent, I think that’s optimistic. I would say very little spending on research to find the solutions to the problems, and even where those solutions are being invested upon, they are funded by others, not domestically, within the continent, not within the industry.”
Reflecting on the lasting global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pate described pandemics as historical turning points that reshape civilization. He said the world continues to feel the aftershocks in politics, economies, and global supply chains.
Nigeria and Africa, he added, are simultaneously navigating multiple transitions: demographic, epidemiological, economic, technological, and political.
While infectious diseases remain a persistent threat, non-communicable diseases—including hypertension, diabetes, cancers, and cardiovascular conditions—now account for an increasing proportion of illness and mortality on the continent.
“We may not be very conscious of it, but there are changes that are happening in the world since the disruption of COVID,” Pate stated, linking many current economic imbalances to pandemic-era spending patterns.
He cautioned that poorly governed technology could erode public trust in science, pointing to the growing influence of misinformation, anti-science sentiments, and anti-vaccine movements.
Scientists, he urged, must prioritize effective communication of research findings to ensure public understanding and support.
“The benefit of the scientific enterprise may be left on the table if we don’t communicate well enough,” Pate warned.
In a major step toward building healthcare innovation and self-reliance in Africa and the developing world, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) is partnering with SPARK GLOBAL to train African scientists in addressing the continent’s specific health challenges.
Dr. Obi Adigwe, Director General of NIPRD, highlighted that chronic underfunding of research severely hampers innovation efforts.
He stressed the importance of translational research in bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and their practical application in clinical and public health settings.
Advancing research into effective treatments and interventions, Adigwe said, would directly improve human well-being.
Adigwe also condemned what he described as “character assassination and threats to scientists,” warning that such actions create a chilling effect and deter young talent from entering the field.
“If we do not act decisively, the torch of science may be extinguished, and humanity will stumble into darkness. Yet there is hope. Science has always triumphed over adversity. Underfunding science is not an act of prudence but of recklessness. Investing in science is the most patriotic act a government can undertake, for it secures the future of its people,” he declared.
Leveraging NIPRD’s expertise and institutional experience, the Nigerian government is collaborating with SPARK GLOBAL to host the annual SPARK Translational Research Boot Camp and Conference in Abuja this month, including the official launch of the SPARK Nigeria Programme.
The event brings together scientists from universities and research institutes across Africa for training, collaboration, and capacity-building using the SPARK translational research model.
Professor Kevin Grimes, Co-director of SPARK at Stanford University and Vice President of SPARK GLOBAL, stated that strategic investment in health research and innovation is essential for Africa to achieve true health security.
Dr. Abdul Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, announced that the federal government is establishing dedicated centers to facilitate clinical trials and support health sector research nationwide.
The boot camp and conference represent a key initiative to empower local researchers, foster African-led innovation, and reduce dependence on external funding for health solutions tailored to the continent’s needs.
