Uju-Rochas Anwukah Advocates for Health Research Funding

Uju-Rochas Anwukah, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Public Health, called for state governments to prioritize health research and adopt locally developed innovations to reduce maternal and newborn mortality. Speaking at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Grand Challenges Nigeria Annual Meeting, she emphasized that research findings must translate into practical healthcare interventions.

Anwukah, who chairs the board of Grand Challenges Nigeria, noted that 10 Nigerian-led projects received seed funding of up to N60 million each. She highlighted the need for stronger commitment from federal and state governments to support research through funding and policy frameworks.

Alem Hadera Abay from the Gates Foundation stressed the urgency of addressing maternal and child health in Nigeria. Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, called for collaboration among various stakeholders to ensure research outcomes lead to practical solutions.

The meeting aimed to bridge the gap between research and implementation in healthcare.