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The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has met with the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako to advocate for strengthened structures and support for research integrity and ethics in Nigeria.

During the visit, the Minister stated his commitment to support initiatives led by the Exploring Excellence in Collaboration, Ethical Conduct and Leadership for Research Integrity through Empowerment (EXCEL RITE) project team and the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC).

He said that “without research integrity, there cannot be ethics,”  and emphasizedthe need for integrity to ensure credible and impactful research outcomes. While acknowledging existing bureaucratic challenges, he encouraged NHREC to seek partnerships with private sector and non-governmental organizations to reduce dependence on federal funding.

Hon. Salako affirmed support for sustaining NHREC’s IT platform and emphasized that research must lead to tangible benefits for the people, not just publications. He also highlighted the government’s interest in phytomedicine research.

Earlier at the meeting, IHVN Chief Operating Officer and Principal Investigator of the EXCEL RITE Project, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah commended the Minister’s dedication to strengthening research ethics, and noted NHREC’s progress under his leadership.

Dr. Mensah requested additional government funding to enhance NHREC’s administrative capacity, sustain its new IT submission portal, currently donor-funded, and expand research integrity initiatives in alignment with the Presidential agenda of positioning Nigeria as a leader in research and innovation. He further proposed creative resource mobilization strategies, including partnerships with the Ministry of Education, TETFUND, and NELFUND.

Dr. Mensah who joined the meeting virtually, led a team of stakeholders including Prof. Oyewale Tomori of the African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Vice Chancellor of UNIMED Ondo, Prof. Ebun Adejuyigbe and EXCEL RITE Project Coordinator, Dr. Nnakelu Eriobu.

Dr. Eriobu presented the EXCEL RITE conference communique to the Minister and noted that while the project’s highlight was the April 28–30, 2025 conference, the initiative goes beyond the event to foster sustained multi-stakeholder engagement to implement the consensus outcomes.

EXCEL RITE Project is funded by the U.S. Office of Research Integrity under the Department of Health and Human Services. He noted

In fostering an excellent work culture and staff performance, the Executive Management of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has initiated the “Employee Recognition Awards” to recognize “Employees of the Month” and “Employee of the Year.”

According to the IHVN Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Olu Alabi, this recognition covers overall employee performance in dressing, innovation, teamwork, productivity, efficiency, leadership and interpersonal skills, punctuality, and adherence to company values and principles, amongst other things.

For July 2025, IHVN celebrates Frances O Njoku, Sussan Israel-Isah, Chukwuma Okibe, Rifkatu Aimu, Ayuba Bathnna, Michael Alonge, Golda Ezeh, Adesola Oluokun, Gabriel Dwagan, Cornelius Gweba and Hamza Gambo Tilde, whose performance stood out in their teams.

Hearty cheers to our July star performers!

To strengthen national and institutional frameworks for research ethics and integrity in Nigeria, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has visited the Premier University of Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State, Nigeria.

During the visit, the IHVN team was led by the Chief Operating Officer and Principal Investigator of the EXCEL RITE Project, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah, who met with the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Professor Oluyemisi A. Bamgbose represented by the Director Research Management Office, Prof. A.S. Jegede.

Dr. Mensah stated that the visit was to advocate for the adoption of recommendations of the communique from the EXCEL-RITE conference held in April 2025. The conference was organized in collaboration with the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) along with other institutions to promote research integrity in the country.

“The reason we came is to advocate for a research integrity office so that students, fellows, post-docs can be supported in fostering a culture of responsible research,” Dr. Mensah said.

He formally presented the conference communique to the University don, alongside a team of research ethics leads from different faculties in the University. In his response, Prof. Jegede said that the university has been in the forefront of capacity building for research ethics in the country.

“The university will be 77 years in November. Presently, we have 33 faculties, two colleges, and 40 departments. The university has been in the forefront of research ethics in West Africa because the grant that established bio-ethics training in West Africa was established in the university.”

He expressed the university’s willingness to collaborate with IHVN to strengthen institutional frameworks for research ethics.

“We already have a structure. The formal organization of a research ethics committee in the country probably started from here. University of Ibadan has supported other institutions to establish their research ethics committees in capacity building and supplies. We are very much supportive of what you are here for,” he said.

Project Coordinator of the EXCEL-RITE Project, Dr. Nnakelu Eriobu said that the visit to the university is the first in a series of planned strategic engagements with institutions, stakeholders and policy makers to facilitate the implementation of recommendations from the Exploring Xcellence in Collaboration, Ethical Conduct and Leadership for Research Integrity through Empowerment (EXCEL RITE) initiative.

 The International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) has extended the for submission of Abstracts for the 3rd IRCE Annual Scientific Symposium has to August 22nd, 2025 while the new date for notification for acceptance of abstracts is August 27th, 2025.

Researchers, scholars, practitioners and professionals can still submit oral and poster research abstracts for presentation at the 3^rd IRCE Annual Scientific Symposium on the following themes:

Track A: Surveillance, Diagnostics, and Early Warning Systems on Viral threat

A1. Epidemiology, transmission, and risks of viral threats

A2. Innovations in genomic surveillance: digital tools, AI, big data, and community/sentinel systems

A3. Molecular diagnostics including Point-of-care

A4. Laboratory systems strengthening for diagnostics and surveillance

Track B: Vaccine and Therapeutics Research, Access, and Uptake

B1. Clinical trials in vaccine and drug efficacy against viral threats

B2. Advances in vaccine development and antiviral therapeutics

B3. Equitable access, deployment strategies, and lessons from past campaigns

Track C: Integrated One Health and Climate-Sensitive Approaches

C1. Zoonotic spillovers and viral threats

C2. Role of extreme weather in viral transmission

C3. AMR and viral co-infections

C4. Coordinated One Health surveillance and response strategies

Track D: Strengthening Health Systems and Pandemic Preparedness

D1. Health system resilience: workforce, supply chains, and infrastructure

D2. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in healthcare and communities

D3. Governance, financing, and cross-border collaboration in outbreak response

Track E: Community Engagement, Risk Communication, and Social Science

E1. Addressing vaccine hesitancy and building public trust

E2. Social science insights into cultural and behavioral influencers and improving compliance and health-seeking behavior

Abstracts may be submitted via this link; Submit an Abstract.

The symposium which is themed, “Combating Viral Threats Through Public Health Response and Research.” is to hold from 8th – 9th September 2025 at the IHVN Campus in Abuja.