The Nigeria Hub of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Global Surgery Unit (GSU) has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to advancing surgical research, capacity building, and healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
In a riveting three-day conference targeted at Principal Investigators held in Lagos between Wednesday, January 8 and Friday, January 10, 2025, the Hub brought together thirty-five (35) member centres from across the country to engage in enriching discussions and transformative learning. The centres include University Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centers, State Teaching Hospitals, State General Hospitals and Faith-Based Hospitals, spanning the six (6) geo-political zones of Nigeria.
A Notable Beginning for the New Year
What better way to start the year than to set the tone for exceptional healthcare delivery in the country and adjust the scope for ethical clinical research practices. With the theme, Equipping Surgeons for Surgical Research: The Role of Regulatory Institutions, the conference explored the intersection of research, policy, and healthcare delivery.
Esteemed participants included representatives from key regulatory bodies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC), officials from the Federal Ministry of Health, international delegates from the NIHR GSU, and key role players in the medical college in Lagos such as the incumbent and immediate past Chief Medical Directors of the Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the Provost, College of Medicine, 大香蕉视频 (CMUL).
Even a founding member of GlobalSurg Collaborative, Professor Aneel Bhangu, lent his voice to the occasion through a virtual session, highlighting the global significance of Nigeria鈥檚 efforts in surgical research. He noted that gatherings such as this Conference have helped surgical researchers have the information needed to make decisions on not just clinical outcomes but also on the broader implications of surgical research, including ethical considerations, health equity, and the translation of findings into impactful health policies.
The Nigeria Hub Director, Professor Adesoji Ademuyiwa, set the tone for the conference with a compelling welcome address. Reflecting on the Hub鈥檚 journey, he celebrated its strides in groundbreaking clinical trials, cohort studies, and capacity-building initiatives. 鈥�The NIHR GSU Nigeria Hub has, indeed, come a long way since its inception and together, we have achieved groundbreaking success in several key areas,鈥� he remarked.
From addressing surgical site infections and perioperative outcomes to trauma management, the Hub鈥檚 research has filled critical gaps in global surgical evidence, showcasing Nigeria鈥檚 central role in shaping global surgery practices.
Professor Ademuyiwa further emphasized the Hub鈥檚 commitment to collaboration as a cornerstone of its success. He lauded the interdisciplinary partnerships that have brought together networks of surgeons, anesthetists, nurses, researchers, statisticians, and policymakers. These collaborations, he noted, have not only enriched local efforts but also amplified Nigeria鈥檚 voice in global surgical priorities.
Be a Fountain, not a Drain: Celebrating Professor Ademuyiwa鈥檚 Visionary Legacy and the Excellence and Collaboration of the Nigeria Hub
The conference was also an opportunity to honour the extraordinary leadership of Professor Adesoji Ademuyiwa, the NIHR GSU Nigeria Hub Director. Goodwill messages from attendees painted a picture of a visionary leader who has been a fountain flourishing the lives of his peers, associates, mentees, and that of communities around him. His efforts in championing the Global Surgery Unit in Nigeria have empowered countless surgeons to reach their potential, inspired medical students to pursue excellence, and influenced health policies that extend beyond Nigeria鈥檚 borders.
The Deputy Hub Director, Professor Adewale Adisa further buttressed these claims by demonstrating the commanding heights the Hub has attained over the years. In his presentation titled: Overview of the Nigeria Hub – Where We Are, Achievements and Trials, Professor Adisa highlighted how the Nigeria Hub has achieved a wide spread, formidable strength in terms of networks and the extent of notable studies completed and those underway. All these, he attested, started from the vision of just one person, Professor Ademuyiwa, to do things differently and make an impact.
Speaking more on the strength of the Nigeria Hub, Professor Adisa further explained that almost the entire circle of research is conducted in the facilities of the different 35 spokes within the Nigeria Hub of NIHR GSU.
More goodwill messages by several notable dignitaries averred that under Professor Adesoji Ademuyiwa鈥檚 guidance, the Hub has prioritised training and mentorship, benefiting hundreds of healthcare professionals and cultivating a new generation of surgical leaders. This dedication has not only advanced surgical research but also directly impacted patient outcomes across the country.
In the same light, Dr Dmitri Nepogodiev, the NIHR representative physically present at the conference asserted that it has been an exciting five (5) years working with the Nigeria Hub. Noting how extraordinary working with the hub has been, he commended the Deputy Hub Director, Professor Adewale Adisa, for being one of the world-record-breaking clinical researchers that successfully recruited six hundred (600) patients into the Cheetah research. Dr Dmitri subsequently expressed his delight in looking forward to the next 5 years of the great work to be done by the Nigeria Hub.
A Call to Action for Shaping the Future of Surgical Research
Be that candle that lights many others without diminishing itself.鈥� – Professor Chris Bode, former Chief Medical Director, LUTH, called on all surgical researchers and Nigerians at large to emulate Professor Adesoji Ademuyiwa, who has offered himself as one that lights the path for many others, impacting not only medical surgeons but also nursing, technical and administrative professionals in the field of medicine.
The conference followed in the same line in providing a platform for surgeons to deliberate on strategies for improving healthcare delivery, embarking on clinical research, and making a meaningful impact on their communities. Through engagement with regulatory bodies and government representatives, participants explored how to navigate regulatory frameworks to facilitate cutting-edge research while ensuring ethical and legal compliance.
The Conference also examined some ongoing clinical research trials and studies in the NIHR GSU such as the Dragon Trial, Penguin Trails, Alligator, Surgpass/Puma etc. and discussed at length about future clinical trials.
Having successfully influenced national health policy on changing of surgical gloves and instruments before closing abdominal wound to reduce surgical site infections (SSIs), the NIHR GSU Nigeria Hub looks to the future, with more ambitious vision. A vision, which the Hub firmly believes and operates with the verve that it is attainable.
Plans are underway to expand the research portfolio, develop innovative solutions to reduce the burden of surgical diseases, and scale up collaborations with local and international partners. These efforts are set to further solidify the Hub鈥檚 position as a leader in global surgical research and policymaking.
A Hub of Excellence in Lagos
Headquartered in Lagos State, the Nigeria Hub of the NIHR Global Surgery Unit stands as a beacon of hope and innovation in surgical research. Its work is not only transforming the surgical landscape in Nigeria but also contributing to the global pursuit of improved healthcare outcomes.
As the conference concluded, it left participants inspired and motivated to continue the work of equipping surgeons for impactful research and healthcare delivery.
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Article Editor: Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem
Photo Editor: Nike Ogunshakin
