- ’We pledge to sustain support for NHREC’
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its determination to entrench the highest ethical standards in health research, pledging sustained institutional and policy support for the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) as a safeguard for research participants and a pillar of scientific credibility in Nigeria. This assurance was given on Tuesday in Abuja by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, at the 2026 Face-to-Face Meeting and Training Workshop of NHREC—an annual forum that brings together ethics regulators, researchers, and partners to strengthen oversight of health research across the country.
Salako underscored the centrality of ethics to credible and impactful research, particularly studies involving human subjects. He noted that as Nigeria expands its research footprint in areas such as clinical trials, vaccines, and disease surveillance, ethical oversight must keep pace and remain aligned with internationally accepted best practices.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s renewed focus on research ethics dates back to the establishment of NHREC in 2005, a milestone that was further consolidated by the National Health Act of 2014. The Act formally empowered the committee to grant ethical approvals, issue guidelines, and monitor health research activities nationwide—roles Salako described as fundamental to protecting citizens and strengthening confidence in scientific outcomes.
He praised the current NHREC, inaugurated in January 2024 under the chairmanship of Prof. Richard Adegbola, for recording measurable progress in a relatively short period. The committee, he said, has improved the timeliness of ethics reviews while reinforcing oversight mechanisms that promote accountability and consistency. “The expertise and dedication demonstrated by NHREC members in the last two years are bringing progress, order and credibility to Nigeria’s health research ecosystem,” Salako said, adding that ethical governance is no longer optional but essential in a global research environment that demands transparency and trust.
The minister commended the committee for convening early in the year to develop a clear work plan and strategic direction, describing the 2026 meeting as a fitting way to mark the second anniversary of the present NHREC. Such proactive planning, he noted, reflects institutional maturity and a shared commitment to continuous improvement. A major highlight of Salako’s address was the digital transformation of the ethics review process. He applauded the revamping of the NHREC website and the deployment of an electronic ethics review portal, describing the innovation as a game-changer that will enhance efficiency, strengthen data management, improve transparency, and deepen engagement with stakeholders.
He urged researchers, institutions, sub-national ethics committees, and international collaborators to fully embrace the e-portal, stressing that digitalisation would help standardise reviews, reduce delays, and better protect the rights and welfare of research participants. Salako also acknowledged the crucial role of development partners in strengthening Nigeria’s ethics landscape. He specifically mentioned the Gates Foundation, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the African Vaccine Regulatory Forum (AVAREF), the Multi-Regional Clinical Trials (MRCT) Centre, and GARNET partners for their technical and financial support.
The minister described the ongoing Trial Regulation and Clinical Ethics Optimisation (TRACE) project as a welcome intervention, assuring participants that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would build on its gains to ensure a sustainable and robust ethical environment for clinical research. Reiterating the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Salako said the government remains focused on encouraging and funding local research for drug development, vaccine production, and disease epidemiology. Ethical conduct, he emphasised, is indispensable to public trust, national ownership of research outcomes, and global scientific credibility. He called on NHREC members to intensify their efforts toward achieving a fully ethically compliant health research ecosystem in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, before formally declaring the 2026 NHREC Face-to-Face Meeting and Training Workshop open.
