Health
UI unveils plan to reposition medical research institute
By Ademola Adegbite
The College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, on Wednesday unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to reposition the Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training as a leading centre for medical research, innovation and postgraduate training in Africa.
The agenda was unveiled at the opening of the institute’s two-day organisational review and repositioning retreat themed “Re-Align, Re-Energize, Re-Position,” held at the Digital Park, University of Ibadan, in Oyo State.
Speaking at the event, the Director of IAMRAT, Prof. Ike Ajayi, said the institute had reached a defining moment in its history and must adapt to the changing realities of global medical research.
Ajayi called for governance reforms, increased funding and stronger collaboration to address Nigeria’s growing healthcare challenges.
The retreat brought together the university management, former provosts, directors of research institutes, medical researchers, policymakers, development partners and alumni to chart a new direction for the institute, which has served as one of Nigeria’s foremost biomedical research centres for more than four decades.
Speaking further, the IAMRAT Director, Prof. Ajayi, said, “Advances in science, evolving funding models and increasing expectations for accountability demand a stronger governance structure capable of sustaining research excellence and attracting international partnerships.”
She explained that although IAMRAT had recorded significant achievements in malaria, infectious diseases, neuroscience, genetics, molecular medicine, epidemiology, environmental health and public health research, institutional reforms had become imperative.
Ajayi said, “The research landscape has changed. Collaboration is now multidisciplinary and global, funding mechanisms have evolved, and expectations of accountability and impact are much higher.
“The question before us is whether IAMRAT is positioned for today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges. Governance reform is therefore central to this retreat because without a modern administrative framework, progress in research, training and innovation cannot be sustained.”
She said the retreat would evaluate the institute’s 2021–2025 strategic plan, benchmark its operations against leading African research institutions and develop practical strategies to strengthen governance, improve communication, mobilise resources and enhance interdisciplinary collaboration.
“We seek to build an institute that is strategically focused, globally competitive, financially sustainable, transparent, collaborative and responsive to Nigeria’s health priorities. Transformation requires courage, innovation and a shared commitment to excellence,” she added.
Also speaking, the Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof. Temidayo Ogundiran, described the retreat as an opportunity for honest institutional reflection, saying research institutions must be willing to evaluate themselves with the same rigour applied to scientific investigations.
He said the institute’s greatest strength should not be measured only by research grants and publications but by its ability to nurture young scientists, encourage innovation and create an environment where groundbreaking discoveries flourish.
“Research itself teaches us that progress begins with the willingness to ask whether there is a better way. Institutions that support research should examine themselves with the same honesty they expect from the scientific process,” Ogundiran said.
He urged participants to move beyond identifying institutional challenges to implementing practical reforms capable of strengthening the institute for future generations.
“Years from now, very few people will remember the presentations made at this retreat, but the decisions taken here and our commitment to implementing them will shape this institution long after this event has ended,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research and former Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof. Babatunde Salako, said Nigeria could not achieve meaningful improvements in healthcare without stronger investment in research and innovation.
He, however, said challenges including inadequate funding, limited infrastructure, a shortage of dedicated researchers and fragmented research efforts continued to constrain the institute’s growth.
“IAMRAT was never intended to be just another research centre conducting routine studies. It was created to be a hub of innovation and a bridge between academia, healthcare and society, where research transforms into cures, training shapes leaders and service uplifts communities,” he said.
Salako called for the expansion of the institute’s malaria research programme into a broader infectious disease hub covering tuberculosis, HIV, Lassa fever and emerging viral diseases, while advocating greater investment in cancer research, genomics, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neuroscience and precision medicine.
“Every experiment we conduct and every dataset we analyse must carry the potential to improve healthcare delivery, influence public policy and save lives,” he said.
Salako further proposed the administrative integration of research institutes within the College of Medicine under IAMRAT to eliminate duplication of responsibilities, improve efficiency and strengthen funding opportunities.
Declaring the retreat open on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Peter Olapegba, said IAMRAT remained central to the university’s ambition of becoming a globally recognised research-driven institution.
Olapegba noted that IAMRAT’s contributions to malaria research, molecular biology, genetics and biomedical sciences had significantly enhanced the university’s international reputation.
“The landscape of global health is changing rapidly. We must realign our strengths, refocus our priorities, re-energise our workforce and reposition IAMRAT to lead scientific discovery from Africa rather than merely participate in it,” he said.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]