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The International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) at Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) invites you to participate in a free virtual training session on “Data Lakehouse” on October 22, 2025 at 1:00pm West African Time (WAT). 

The session is to be hosted by The Role of Data Streams in Informing Infection Dynamics in Africa (INFORM Africa) Project in collaboration with the Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DSI Africa).

Participants can expect to gain hands-on skills in data management, integration, and analysis using the Data Lakehouse architecture. The training session will introduce participants to key tools and workflows that bridge traditional data lakes and data warehouses, enhancing data-driven decision-making capabilities within government institutions.

IRCE welcomes participation from DSI Africa Consortium Members, government, public health stakeholders, researchers and data scientists. Proficiency in the use of programming languages like R and Python is a requirement for participants.

To register and participate, check the flyer for details. 

The INFORM Africa Project leverages big data to address critical public health challenges from both emerging pandemics such as SARS-CoV-2 and established ones like HIV. Focusing on Nigeria and South Africa, which together account for about 40% of Africa’s HIV burden, the project aims to develop population-scale data streams that strengthen surveillance, response, and resilience against pandemics across the continent.

More than 40 Strategic Information (SI) staff at Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) have converged in Abuja for a review meeting themed, “Process Innovation, Automation and Best Sustainable Practices.”

The five-day meeting provided a platform for state teams to make presentations on their annual activities and engage in discussions on achievements, and innovations aimed at strengthening systems, and tools. Sessions also featured inter-departmental and inter-unit peer learning exchanges, alongside discussions on enhancing data quality, integrity, and utilization.”

At the meeting, IHVN Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah commended the staff for their collective contribution to documentation, analysis, reporting, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information to guide quality decision making for programs implemented by the Institute.  

Dr. Mensah called the staff to embrace innovation and cultivate strategic relationships to enhance sustainability of the organization’s programs.

IHVN Director Strategic Information, Mrs. Fati Murtala-Ibrahim explained that the SI team has deliberated on ways to improve efficiency including automation of some tools to ease pressure and reduce turnaround time for certain tasks.

“Our focus for the next financial year is efficiency, quality and implementing with integrity. Once you can strengthen the system that generates the data used for decision making, it will translate to better treatment outcomes for patients.  Different teams have showcased tools and innovations that they have developed, shared best practices, templates and engaged in practical demonstrations,” she said.

Mrs. Murtala-Ibrahim added that tasks have been assigned to different teams and states to ensure the implementation of innovative ideas shared.  

Some staff who participated at the review meeting including Strategic Information Managers in Katsina and FCT, Mr. Mohammed Usman and Mrs. Chigozie Nwafor, said that the meeting has equipped them with strategies to improve on program deliverables.

“We have looked at the changes in program implementation and patient management to guide data use. When we talk about data, data represents people hence the need to improve data and patient care,” Mrs. Nwafor said.

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 August 2025, IHVN celebrates Chioma Ofoegbu, Kazeem Ayodeji, Oluremi Are, Adeyemo David Adeyemi, Margaret Gberikon, Grace Ella, Kemi Akinyede, Barine Mark Jones, Hafsat Abdulazeez Jimoh, Umar Usman and Gideon Enoch, whose performance stood out in their teams.

Hearty cheers to our August star performers!

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has emphasized the need for increased investment in health research and stronger collaboration with government and international partners to address viral threats and strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for future pandemics.

 This call was made during a press briefing at the IHVN Campus ahead of the 3rd International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) Annual Scientific Symposium International Research, featuring the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum, the Chief Operating Officer/Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah, and the IRCE Executive Director, Professor Alash’le Abimiku.

Speaking at the event, Professor Abimiku explained that this year’s symposium focus is on viral threats to public health. She noted that outbreaks such as COVID-19, diphtheria, and lassa fever continue to challenge the country’s health systems.

“Unless we come together to understand the viruses that put us at risk, we will continue to face repeated outbreaks. The key question remains: if another pandemic hits, are we prepared?” she said. According to her, IHVN’s research examines how viruses change, spread, and impact populations, while also working with policymakers to ensure findings influence national health policies.

Dr. Dakum added that collaboration with government is central to IHVN’s work. From formulating research questions to disseminating results, policymakers are involved to ensure findings translate into real-world solutions. He cited the example of HIV service delivery, where IHVN research on providing services at the community level helped inform the policy of decentralizing HIV care across Nigeria. “If you do not inform policy, you cannot scale up findings beyond research sites,” he noted.

Also at the event, IHVN Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah stressed the need for domestic financing for research, stating, “If health budgets do not allocate at least 10–30% for research, we won’t go far. Implementation without science cannot succeed.” He added that IHVN continues to seek grants, collaborate with local partners, and advocate for private sector involvement in research financing.

Looking ahead, Dr. Mensah announced that IHVN is constructing a 1,000-seater Learning and Development Centre to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange with global researchers. “We want the world to see that we are not just a local organization, but an international institution of excellence,” he said.

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