The Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to increase investment in biomedical research to develop affordable treatments for diseases and prepare the country for future pandemics.
It said sustained funding for genomic research would improve healthcare delivery, create jobs, and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle diseases.
The call was made at the Academy’s 2026 Annual Scientific Conference, held on Friday at the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos State.
The programme had the theme, “The Genetics and Genomics of Non-Communicable Diseases: Integrating Science Into Clinical Care.”
The Gilbert Lilly Endowed Professor of Diagnostic Sciences at the College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, United States, Azeez Butali, who delivered the keynote address, said government investment in the Human Genome Project had yielded significant economic and medical benefits, with every dollar invested generating about $141 in returns.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to invest in biomedical research to develop affordable treatments for sickle cell disease, lamenting that despite the country’s high burden of the disease, many patients could not afford available treatments, including bone marrow transplantation.
According to him, research funding would also encourage young scientists to pursue careers in the field.
“For every dollar invested in the Human Genome Project, the government received $141 in return. Research also has economic benefits. In addition to creating jobs, it allows us to develop molecules and improve the lives of our people,” he said.
“Twelve years after Ebola, we are facing another scare, and we are busy doing the same things we did the first time: shutting the ports and taking other precautionary measures. No. Invest in biomedical research, develop vaccines and prepare your people so that their immune systems can fight future exposure.”
“Ebola and COVID-19 will not be the last scare. There will be another pandemic in the future. Are we ready to do what we need to do? That means funding biomedical research to discover and identify molecules that can become vaccines or drugs to reduce the impact of diseases. That is the challenge to the government.”
“The challenge to us as citizens is that we should believe research can change lives and improve the economy. We should also participate in research when we are invited to do so. That is what will drive discoveries and accelerate precision medicine.”
The professor warned that Nigeria could face difficulties responding to future disease outbreaks without adequate investment in vaccine development and biomedical research.
He urged Nigerians to participate in community-based research and engage scientists to investigate health problems associated with environmental pollution and other conditions.
Similarly, an Associate Professor of Human Genetics and Genomics at the University of Ghana, Lily Paemka, recommended greater inclusion of African genomes in genetic studies, saying the continent’s genetic diversity offered opportunities to identify new disease-causing genes.
In her presentation, titled “Genetics and Genomics of Breast Cancer: Lessons from Accra,” she said research in the field remained significantly concentrated among Caucasian populations, with only about two per cent involving black populations.
Paemka, who is also the Deputy Director of the West African Genetic Medicine Centre at the University of Ghana, called for greater public awareness of cancer, stressing that late presentation and aggressive forms of some cancers contributed to poor survival rates.
She said, “It is about recognising that our population, being highly genetically diverse, provides us with an unprecedented source of data for understanding genetic diseases. The takeaway message is that we need to include African genomes in genetic studies.”
“Another message is that when we do this, we discover new variants that predispose Africans to genetic diseases. This is not surprising because we are the most genetically diverse population. There is, therefore, an opportunity to identify novel genes involved in diseases.”
“Another thing I want to emphasise is the need for awareness, particularly when it comes to cancer in Africa. There is always a late presentation. For some conditions, such as breast cancer, multiple myeloma and prostate cancer, we also tend to have more aggressive forms of the diseases.”
According to her, when late presentation is combined with aggressive forms of cancer, survival rates drop.
She urged greater public engagement and education, saying, “We need to let people know that cancer is a disease and not a curse. We also need to debunk the myths and misconceptions surrounding it. Through research and public education, we can better position our population to participate in the advancement of precision and genomic medicine.”
Also speaking, the Foundation President of the Academy, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, called on the Federal Government to establish a national centre for genomic diseases, saying Nigeria had trained experts capable of advancing genomic medicine.
He said the country could use genetic testing to identify and prevent inherited conditions before birth but relied heavily on collaborations with foreign institutions.
Ashiru noted that stronger government support for the Academy would help harness local expertise, improve healthcare policies, and position Nigeria to make greater contributions to medical research.