Health commissioner Akin Abayomi says the Lagos government has set aside N200 million to fund indigenous research in health.

Mr Abayomi disclosed this in Lagos at the ongoing 2022 Annual International Conference on Health Advances, Innovation and Research (ICHAIR), organised by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR).

ICHAIR is a meeting for bio-medical professionals and stakeholders within Nigeria and beyond.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has given us N200 million, and it is for the purpose of funding indigenous local research in the state. We are presently going through the applications submitted so we can shortlist the applicants while the winners of the grant will be announced next month,” stated Mr Abayomi. 

The health commissioner added, “This will trigger the process for research, innovations and medical advances in health. The governor also funded COVID-19 research to the tune of N300 million and this research has resulted in 40 journal articles and were made possible through partnership with various health institutions such as NIMR.”

The commissioner added that plans were underway to create an intellectual property desk in the state.

“We are working on an intellectual property desk because it is necessary for our researchers to understand how important their intellectual work is,” he disclosed.

Mr Abayomi urged researchers in the country to carry out research that will proffer solutions to issues peculiar to our domain. 

(NAN)