The Federal Government has hailed the launch of a new Health Knowledge Compendium by Solina Centre for International Development and Research, describing it as a practical tool to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and policy application in Nigeria’s health sector.
The publication was launched on the sidelines of the Nigeria Implementation Science Alliance Conference, held in Abuja, on Friday.
Nigeria continues to face persistent health challenges, ranging from inadequate funding and weak primary healthcare systems to limited translation of scientific evidence into policy.
Despite a wealth of academic research, experts say much of it remains inaccessible to decision-makers, locked in technical journals and rarely tailored to local realities.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said the compendium, which consolidates field-based research and lessons from health programmes, would support efforts to address real challenges confronting the system.
He emphasised that research in Nigeria must move beyond being for “publication’s sake” to producing evidence that directly improves healthcare delivery.
“For the past ten years, Solina has been bringing scientists together and organising important conferences. Now, by producing this Compendium that documents practical, field-based research and highlights the lessons learned, the organisation is making a very valuable contribution.
“As we move forward, it is important that research conducted in Nigeria speaks directly to the challenges faced in our country. While we must not operate in isolation – and our research must meet international standards – it should not simply be research “for publication’s sake”. It must be research that addresses real problems confronting our health system and our people,” Salako said.
He added that the Federal Government had reorganised its research committee to improve coordination and visibility in the national research space, stressing that partnerships with institutions like Solina would fast-track sustainable development in the sector.
“That is why, as a government, we have taken steps to reorganise our research committee so it can function more efficiently, gain greater visibility, and improve coordination. This will ensure that we have a clear view of what is happening within the national research landscape,” the minister said.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Muyi Aina, said the compendium was timely, as the country was implementing many new health initiatives.
He described the document as “a guide for continuous learning” that would strengthen frontline interventions at the primary health care level.
“We are embarking on many initiatives for the very first time, and these represent a new way of working – different from how we have done things in the past. That is precisely why this compendium is so relevant. When you are determined to make a difference and accelerate impact, you need tools that provide guidance and knowledge,” he said.
Meanwhile, SCIDaR’s Chief Executive Officer, Uchenna Igbokwe, explained that the initiative was born out of the need to make health evidence more usable for decision-makers, noting that while Nigeria is not lacking in research, findings are often locked in academic journals and written in highly technical language inaccessible to policymakers and health managers.
“What this Knowledge Compendium seeks to change is how research is presented. Instead of going through 30 separate articles, you now have one resource that distils the evidence and explains its policy implications clearly,” Igbokwe said.
He stressed that the real work would begin after the launch, as the compendium must be taken to government agencies, programme managers, and state officials to ensure its lessons translate into better health outcomes.
On the issue of financing, Igbokwe acknowledged the persistent funding gap in Nigeria’s health sector, warning that the era of heavy reliance on external donors was ending.
He said the government’s sector-wide approach, increased health budget allocations, and expansion of insurance coverage showed progress toward building a sustainable system.
