The Federal Government, through the National Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training (NCESRTA), has launched a new initiative to reduce reliance on foreign expertise in tackling sickle cell disease (SCD) by building local clinical research capacity.
NCESRTA, University of Abuja, has unveiled a 12-week programme designed to equip Nigerian researchers and clinicians with the skills to design and conduct world-class clinical trials. The training, supported by IQVIA and Bio Ventures for Global Health, runs from September 18 to November 27, 2025.
Interest has been overwhelming, with over 460 registrations, far surpassing the quota of five representatives per clinical site. Participants are also joining from outside Nigeria, including Sudan and Zambia.
Prof Obiageli Nnodu, Director of NCESRTA, described the programme as a landmark in strengthening Africa’s response to genetic and chronic diseases.
“We are not focusing on a particular drug or therapy. What we are doing is building sustainable expertise so that Nigeria can run its own high-quality trials. Once developed, these skills are transferable to other diseases like cancer, hypertension, and diabetes,” she said.
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