CAPACITY FOR HOME-GROWN INNOVATIONS AND MEDICAL PRODUCTS DEVELOPMENT SET TO RECEIVE A BOOST AS NIMR LAUNCHES FOUNDATION
The challenges of diseases and other health-related problems confronting Nigeria
occasioned by lack of adequate funds for medical research will soon be a thing of the
past as Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Foundation (NIMR Foundation) will be
unveiled to the public at Eko Hotels and Suites Lagos on Thursday, 4th November 2021.
The Foundation will also use the event to raise N10 billion endowments with which it will
fund its activities in perpetuity.
NIMR Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization established by Nigeria Institute
of Medical Research (NIMR) to build and expand capacity for translational research
among early career investigators and promote innovation, development and
commercialization of home-grown medicines, vaccines and technologies to address the
health needs of Nigerians.
Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) was established through the National
Science and Technology Act of 1977. It is the apex medical research organization
charged with the responsibility to conduct research into diseases and conditions of public
health importance in Nigeria and develop structures for the dissemination of research
findings while providing enabling environment and facilities for health research and
training in collaboration with the Federal and State Ministries of Health.
It is expected that the Foundation would, through funding, assist Nigerian Institute of
Medical Research to develop and administer those activities that supplement its mission
and mandate.
It would be recalled that the Chairman of the Trustees, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN,
revealed at the Media parley that the Foundation would mobilize resources to enable
NIMR do everything that it is currently doing and should be doing given the broad mandate
imposed by the Law establishing the Institute back in 1977. The Foundation’s role is to
mobilize resources for NIMR from mostly the private sector rather than depend on funding
from Government as the Institute currently does.
NIMR Foundation will prioritize development and implementation of mechanisms to
elevate research, innovation and products/ services development in healthcare as a
viable business which can address human suffering in form of diseases and other healthrelated problems and become a significant revenue stream contributing to the economic productivity of our nation
The Foundation will mobilize funds via different sources including, but not limited to,
donations from individuals, corporate bodies, and organizations in Nigeria and worldwide,
endowments from philanthropists and other well-meaning individuals, grants from
individuals, trusts, initiatives, local and international governments, private and nongovernmental organizations within and outside Nigeria and income from commercial
ventures and investments.
These will be directed towards funding research-based postgraduate degree
programmes of selected junior and mid-level researchers across private and public
academic, training and research institutions in Nigeria and supporting innovations and
development of home-grown medicines, vaccines and technologies to improve health
care in Nigeria.
Dr. Olajide Sobande
Executive Director, NIMR Foundation
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