Pate: With Strong Investment in Research, Africa Can Become Global Health Solutions Hub

By Otobong Gabriel,  Abuja 

Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has said Africa can transform into a global powerhouse for health innovation if governments commit serious funding and policy support to science, research, and homegrown solutions.

Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the five-day SPARK Translational Research Boot Camp, Pate stressed that the continent must move beyond basic scientific discoveries and focus on converting research into practical healthcare solutions that directly impact lives.

According to him, Africa’s weak investment in research continues to limit its ability to solve its own health challenges despite its huge population and growing economic relevance.

He described the situation as a paradox.

“We are 1.4 billion people with enormous challenges, yet we contribute very little to global scientific inquiry and research funding,” Pate said. “Even where solutions exist, they are often funded externally rather than domestically.”

He warned that continued neglect of research funding could undermine progress already made in strengthening healthcare systems across Nigeria and the continent.

Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister noted that global crises historically reshape civilisations, adding that the world is still dealing with the economic, political, and supply chain disruptions caused by the outbreak.

Nigeria and other African countries, he said, are currently facing multiple transitions at once — demographic growth, changing disease patterns, economic pressures, technological shifts, and political adjustments.

While infectious diseases remain a concern, Pate highlighted the rising threat of non-communicable illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases, which now account for a growing share of deaths across the continent.

He also cautioned that poor governance of technology and weak science communication could erode public trust, pointing to the rise of misinformation, anti-science sentiment, and vaccine skepticism.

“The benefits of science may be lost if we fail to communicate effectively,” he added.

In a push to strengthen Africa’s research capacity, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) is partnering with SPARK GLOBAL to train African scientists to develop practical solutions tailored to local health needs.

NIPRD Director General, Dr. Obi Adigwe, said underfunding remains a major obstacle to innovation, stressing that translational research — which bridges laboratory discoveries and real-world clinical application — is key to improving healthcare outcomes.

He warned that hostility toward scientists, including threats and character attacks, discourages young professionals from entering the field.

“Underfunding science is not prudence; it is recklessness,” Adigwe said. “Investing in science is one of the most patriotic actions any government can take.”

The SPARK boot camp is expected to bring together researchers from universities and institutes across Africa to collaborate, share ideas, and develop locally driven health innovations.

Co-Director of SPARK at Stanford University and Vice President of SPARK GLOBAL, Prof. Kevin Grimes, said sustained investment in health research would strengthen Africa’s health security and reduce dependence on foreign solutions.

Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking Healthcare Value Chain, Dr. Abdul Mukhtar, noted that the federal government is establishing clinical trial centres to support local innovation and pharmaceutical development.

Together, stakeholders at the conference agreed on one message: Africa’s path to healthcare independence lies in funding its scientists, empowering research institutions, and turning ideas into practical solutions.