FG urged to boost health research funding, adopt AI

Summary

A health research executive has urged the federal government to increase domestic funding for research and use AI to help strengthen Nigeria’s public health system as donor support declines.

Highlights

• Alash’le Abimiku of the International Research Centre of Excellence at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria made the call at a news conference in Abuja.
• She said cuts in global health funding, including support from major international donors, make local financing for research more urgent.
• Abimiku said stronger domestic investment could help sustain research capacity and improve Nigeria’s response to health challenges.
• She said AI could improve productivity and data analysis if used responsibly and ethically.
• The remarks were made ahead of the fourth IRCE Annual Scientific Symposium scheduled for 31 August to 1 September, with sustainable funding and AI/ML among its themes.