*Says global health gains fragile without stronger science
WorldStage– Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate has said that Nigeria and Africa were undergoing demographic, epidemiological, technological and economic transitions, with non-communicable diseases now accounting for most illnesses and deaths.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja at the Stanford Programme in Applied Research for Knowledge (SPARK) Translational Research Boot Camp and Conference 2026, he warned that global health gains remain fragile amid ”poly-crisis” of overlapping economic, political and technological shocks affecting countries worldwide.
The event was organised by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Health Care Value Chain.
According to him, science and the scientific method remain “the fundamental path” for societal progress.
The minister noted that scientific inquiry had improved life expectancy, disease control and medical breakthroughs, but warned that weak research systems could reverse those gains.
Reflecting on the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, he said its disruption continued to shape global politics, economies and supply chains,with persistent structural imbalances.
On the non-communicable diseases now accounting for most illnesses and deaths, he said, “These shifts are occurring alongside rapid advances in biological sciences, computing and artificial intelligence that are transforming how we live and work,” he said.
He warned that poorly governed technology could fuel misinformation and anti-science sentiments, urging researchers to communicate evidence more effectively.
He highlighted Africa’s paradox of a 1.4-billion population but minimal research investment, saying the continent must end its long history of extraction in people, resources and data.
The minister linked SPARK’s work to Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative focused on governance, service delivery, value-chain development and health security.
He said government was shifting from faith-based policymaking to evidence-based programmes, with renewed investment in national research and clinical trials infrastructure.
Pate added that President Bola Tinubu, patron of the National Academy of Science, remained committed to advancing science and innovation in Nigeria.
Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of PVAC, said translational research was critical to healthcare industrialisation in Africa.
Mukhtar said Africa accounted for only two per cent of global research and development spending and must convert discoveries into lifesaving products.
“Research must move from the bench to the bedside,” Mukhtar said.
He announced that Nigeria would soon launch Africa’s first healthcare manufacturing academy to support innovation and production.
He said the initiative was building an end-to-end ecosystem covering supply chains, micro-access systems and financial mechanisms they support innovation.
Co-Director of SPARK at Stanford University, Prof. Kevin Grimes, said the programme helped academics advance innovations beyond publication by pairing them with experienced industry advisers.
He said Africa must set its own research agenda, stressing that genetic diversity affects drug response and must guide product development.
Earlier, NIPRD Director-General, Dr Obi Adigwe, said science was facing renewed hostility globally through funding cuts, misinformation and threats to researchers.
Adigwe said translational research strengthened public trust by delivering tangible outcomes and commended national leadership for prioritising evidence-based policies.
He said COVID-19 exposed the risks of reliance on external solutions and urged Africa to reclaim ownership of its scientific agenda.
Adigwe called for a coalition of policymakers, partners and scientists to protect science, support innovation and strengthen global preparedness.
The week-long boot camp continues, participants will receive hands-on training to accelerate the translation of African research into therapies, diagnostics and technologies.
