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.
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.
L-R University of Ibadan Director of the Research Management Office, Prof. A.S Jegede, IHVN Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah, EXCEL RITE Project Coordinator, Dr. Nnakelu Eriobu and Research Ethics Don from Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma, Dr. Chiedozie Ike interacting during the advocacy visit at University of Ibadan.Principal Investigator EXCEL RITE Project, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah presenting a copy of the project’s communique to the University of Ibadan (UI) Director of the Research Management Office, Prof. A.S Jegede with IHVN and UI Research Ethics dons present.
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 3rd 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
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.
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 June 2025, IHVN celebrates Lucia Okwuonye, Temitope Olukomogbon, Kapimwa Shuaibu, Ayomide Olumefun, Ferdinand Nwaoha, Ejiroghene Eru, Mohammed Abdulkadir and Yop Tenmang, whose performance stood out in their teams.
The International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) at the Institute of Human Virology (IHVN) is calling on researchers, scholars, practitioners and professionals to submit oral and poster research abstracts for presentation at the 3rd IRCE Annual Scientific Symposium.
Abstracts on the following themes are being accepted:
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
The deadline for abstract submission is 7th August 2025 while the date for notification of acceptance is 18th August 2025.
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.
