The University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) is steadily positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading research institutions, attracting significant international funding and forging strategic partnerships aimed at addressing some of the continent’s most pressing health, agricultural, educational and climate-related challenges.
With 16 active international research grants backed by major global institutions including the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH), the World Bank, the European Union, Innovate UK and the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the university is increasingly becoming a destination for cutting-edge research with global relevance and local impact.
The projects have connected UNIABUJA researchers with renowned institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, King’s College London, Northwestern University, New York University, Coventry University, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Washington University in St. Louis, among others.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, said the growing confidence shown by international funders and research partners reflects the quality of scholarship emerging from the institution.
According to him, Africa must play a central role in generating solutions to its own developmental challenges, stressing that the University of Abuja is committed to producing research that directly improves lives across the continent.
“Our researchers are demonstrating that African institutions can lead world-class studies capable of shaping policies, transforming healthcare systems and creating sustainable solutions to local challenges,” he said.
One of the university’s most prominent research areas is sickle cell disease, a condition for which Nigeria carries the highest global burden.
The institution currently hosts seven internationally funded projects focused on improving diagnosis, treatment, patient care and research capacity in sickle cell disease management.
Among them is the Patient-Centred Sickle Cell Disease Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS) project, supported by the NIHR, which seeks to improve healthcare delivery through implementation research, workforce training, community engagement and institutional strengthening.
The university is also a key participant in the NIH-funded Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium Nigeria (SPARCNET), designed to enhance collaboration among African researchers and improve patient outcomes across the continent.
Other initiatives include SPARCTRAIN, which focuses on training emerging African scientists, and ACCELERATE, a project aimed at increasing access to hydroxyurea, a drug proven to reduce the severity and frequency of sickle cell complications.
The institution is equally participating in international clinical trials evaluating new therapies and exploring the use of artificial intelligence in health research through a European Union-supported initiative.
Professor Obiageli Nnodu, Director of the Centre for Sickle Cell Research and Training in Africa (CESRTA), said the university’s work is already influencing healthcare policies and treatment approaches across Africa.
“Our studies are changing the paradigm and policy of sickle cell diagnosis and management in Nigeria and beyond. We are also building capacity in multidisciplinary care, clinical trials, implementation science, genetic counselling and data management,” she stated.
Beyond sickle cell disease, the university is making significant contributions to cardiovascular health research, particularly in addressing hypertension, a condition often described as a silent killer.
Research efforts led by Professor Dike B. Ojji, Director of the Institute of Advanced Medical Research and Training (IAMRAT), include five major international studies focused on prevention, treatment and management of hypertension within African populations.
One of the flagship projects, Addressing Hypertension Care in Africa (ADHINCRA), is being implemented in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and examines how hypertension is identified and managed across different African healthcare systems.
Other studies are investigating hypertension among people living with HIV, dietary salt consumption, maternal and child cardiovascular health, and strategies for integrating non-communicable disease care into primary healthcare services.
Professor Ojji said strengthening cardiovascular care at the primary healthcare level remains essential for reducing preventable deaths and improving health outcomes nationwide.
“Investing in prevention and early intervention can help transform Nigeria’s healthcare system from a reactive model to one that prioritises equitable and proactive care,” he noted.
The university’s research footprint extends well beyond healthcare.
In agriculture and climate adaptation, Professor Kasim Waziri is leading a project in partnership with King’s College London examining how conservation agriculture can help women farmers adapt to climate change and improve food security.
Another initiative, headed by Professor Ishaya Musa Dagwa and supported by Innovate UK and Coventry University, focuses on transferring agricultural innovations from research institutions to farmers and local enterprises.
Meanwhile, Dr Muhammad Rilwan Chiroma is spearheading research into refractive eye disorders, while Professor Hauwa Imam is leading a World Bank-supported programme aimed at strengthening technical and vocational education and training across Nigeria.
The breadth of these projects underscores UNIABUJA’s growing reputation as a research-driven institution committed to generating practical solutions to challenges affecting millions of Africans.
As global funding increasingly flows into African-led research, the University of Abuja is demonstrating that the continent’s universities can not only participate in international knowledge production but also lead efforts to solve the problems that matter most to Africa.
Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi
