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A two-day summit on clinical research is set to bring together healthcare professionals, researchers, students and industry stakeholders in Lagos to address talent gaps and develop practical solutions for strengthening Nigeria’s clinical research capacity.
The Africa’s Clinical Research Ecosystem Summit (ACRES) 2026, scheduled for November 27 and 28 in Yaba, Lagos, will focus on developing local expertise, expanding career opportunities and promoting greater African participation in clinical trials.
The summit, organised under the theme, “Redefining Representation & Talent in African Clinical Trials,” is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to examine challenges within the clinical research ecosystem and explore ways to improve the participation of African professionals and institutions in clinical trials.
The convener and Managing Director of United Clinical Trials Support Services (UCTSS), Aizehi Onoigboria, said the initiative was designed to help students and early-career professionals move beyond theoretical knowledge to understand the practical workings of clinical research and identify opportunities within the sector.
“We created this workshop so students could move beyond theory and start thinking in solutions, not just learning what clinical research is, but understanding how it works and where they fit into it,” Onoigboria said.
The summit will feature discussions on clinical research, talent development and the challenges and opportunities involved in expanding clinical trials across Africa.
It will also include interactive sessions, networking opportunities and group presentations aimed at generating practical recommendations for strengthening Nigeria’s research ecosystem.
A major feature of the event is a group presentation initiative themed, “Solutions that Strengthen Clinical Research Capacity in Nigeria.”
The initiative will encourage participants to work collaboratively to identify gaps in the country’s clinical research ecosystem and present actionable ideas for addressing them.
The programme is also expected to expose students and early-career professionals to career pathways in clinical research, enabling them to engage experienced practitioners and better understand how their academic qualifications can translate into opportunities in the sector.
This need for career guidance was reflected in feedback from a participant at an earlier session, who said the experience helped address concerns about employment prospects after studying biochemistry.
“My key takeaway from the event is that your BSc is your base, what you do with that BSc, and how you specialize will determine your future,” the participant said.
Speakers expected at ACRES 2026 include Professor Adesoji Oludotun Ademuyiwa, Professor of Paediatric Surgery at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos; Dr. Ramalan Mansur, Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Internal Medicine, Consultant Physician, Clinical Trialist and Pharmacoepidemiologist; and Dr. Toyosi Yekeen Raheem, Chief Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR).
Others are Lisa Ursella Collins of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria and Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Innomas Clinical Research; Onoigboria; and Yusuf Babatunde, Growth and Partnerships Manager at YLabs.
The summit is supported by organisations and institutions across healthcare, research, education and professional development, including Biospherea, the National Public Health Network, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Nigerian Association of Microbiology Students, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students, COMPSSA University of Lagos Chapter, and Yaba College of Technology.
Registration is open to students, healthcare professionals, researchers and other interested stakeholders.
Organisations interested in supporting the summit can also explore sponsorship, exhibition and strategic partnership opportunities, including financial and in-kind contributions.
