The Federal Government has announced plans to launch an electronic portal aimed at streamlining the submission and approval process for health research proposals, with full deployment expected before the end of 2025. The move is designed to enhance transparency, efficiency, and standardisation within Nigeria’s health research framework.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, made the announcement on Thursday during a two-day workshop in Abuja focused on the Electronic Portal Protocol Management System and National Ethics Standardisation. Represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr Kamil Shotirere, Salako explained that while the platform is currently undergoing trial runs, proposal submissions are anticipated to begin before the third quarter concludes.
“We need to test run it after this training and also see how effectively it is working before we tell the world to submit research proposals. We are making sure that before the end of the third quarter of this year, they should start submitting,” he said.
He highlighted the significance of the portal in fortifying the ethical review process for health research across the country. Salako stressed that researchers will be able to submit proposals, pay necessary review fees, attach required documentation, and receive reviewer feedback—all within the platform.
“The committee will make sure that every proposal that is submitted for research passes through the necessary procedure, ensure the research is done properly, and ensure researchers are ethical about the research. As a researcher anywhere, you can just log into the portal, make your submission… they will allocate it to the reviewer,” he explained.
Dr Salako reaffirmed the essential role of the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) in maintaining ethical standards in all research involving human participants. The training workshop, he said, would enhance the committee’s ability to enforce ethical protocols effectively.
Also speaking at the event, Dr Lolade Adeyemi, Special Adviser to the Minister on Research and Innovation, noted that while government funding remains limited, international organisations have begun to support the initiative. She pointed to ongoing partnerships with the Gates Foundation and the Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Centre.
“So once the international community sees that we’re doing this, they will see that this is what they want to partner with, and the government has to provide more funding, and they’re doing that… We are also trying to have conversations about charging a nominal fee… we have to find mechanisms of sustainability,” she said.
Chairman of the NHREC, Professor Richard Adegbola, identified infrastructure gaps as a major hindrance to the country’s research ethics review process. He noted that current manual systems for submission and review often lead to inefficiencies and delay, jeopardising time-sensitive research funding.
“What the e-portal will do is the investigator will be able to monitor his or her submission in real-time… The e-portal is going to improve efficiency but also harmonise how we do things across the country,” he stated.
Dr Collins Mitambo of the Gates Foundation echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for robust ethical and regulatory systems to foster innovation and build public trust.
“This two-year project reflects a shared commitment to build systems that protect participants, ensure data integrity, and foster public trust… The project will ensure the clinical trial review process is efficient, predictable, and transparent,” he said.
Dr Mitambo added that the project will also enhance capacity building for Nigeria’s regulatory bodies, research institutions, and ethics committees.