The Federal Government has restated its commitment to strengthening ethical standards in Nigeria’s health research sector, describing the ongoing digital transformation of the ethics review process as a major breakthrough for credible and globally competitive research.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, gave the assurance at the 2026 Face-to-Face Meeting and Training Workshop of the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) held in Abuja.
Dr. Salako said strong ethical oversight remains fundamental to public trust, scientific integrity and the protection of research participants, especially as Nigeria expands clinical trials, drug development and vaccine research.
According to a press statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, the Minister recalled that Nigeria’s health research ethics framework gained formal footing with the establishment of NHREC in 2005 and was further strengthened by the National Health Act of 2014. He noted that the Act empowered NHREC to grant ethical approvals, issue guidelines for research involving human subjects and monitor studies to safeguard participants’ rights, safety and wellbeing.
Commending the committee under the leadership of its Chairman, Professor Richard Adegbola, Dr. Salako said NHREC has significantly raised standards through timely review of research proposals and stronger regulatory oversight. He described the 2026 workshop as a fitting activity to mark the second anniversary of the reconstituted NHREC, inaugurated in January 2024.
A major focus of the Minister’s address was the digitalisation of the ethics review process. He praised NHREC for revamping its website and introducing an electronic ethics review portal, describing the initiative as a game changer that will enhance efficiency, data management, transparency, cost-effectiveness and performance tracking across Nigeria’s research ecosystem.
Dr. Salako urged researchers, institutions, sub-national ethics committees and international partners to fully utilise the e-portal to strengthen research integrity and guarantee the welfare of participants nationwide.
He also acknowledged the support of international partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC), the World Health Organization’s African Vaccine Regulatory Forum (AVAREF), the Multi-Regional Clinical Trials (MRCT) Centre and GARNET partners, for building NHREC’s capacity. He highlighted the ongoing Trial Regulation and Clinical Ethics Optimization (TRACE) project as a critical intervention to improve the safety, rigour and credibility of clinical trials in Nigeria.
Reiterating the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Minister said Nigeria would continue to promote and fund local research in drug development, vaccines and disease epidemiology, stressing that such investments can only yield meaningful results within a robust ethical framework.
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He called on NHREC members to intensify efforts towards building a fully ethical health research system capable of contributing to national development and advancing global health goals.
Dr. Salako formally declared the 2026 NHREC Face-to-Face Meeting and Training Workshop open, expressing optimism that stronger ethical governance would deepen public confidence and further enhance Nigeria’s standing in global health research.
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