To strengthen ethical standards and integrity in Nigeria’s research landscape, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) will convene a national conference from April 28 to 30, 2025, in Abuja.
Themed ‘Exploring Xcellence in Ethical Conduct, Leadership for Research Integrity Through Empowerment (EXCEL-RITE),’ the event aims to foster a culture of ethical and transparent research across academia, government and industry.
IHVN’s chief operating officer and principal investigator for the conference, Dr Charles Olalekan Mensah told Science Nigeria that the event is being organised in partnership with the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC).
Mensah said the conference will bring together researchers, students, administrators and professionals from various sectors to examine real-world challenges and co-create practical solutions to enhance research integrity in the country.
He emphasised the increasing importance of ethical leadership in research, especially as scientific investigations become more complex and collaborative.
“Integrity in research is the foundation of scientific progress and innovation. The EXCEL-RITE Conference provides a platform to advance policies, build institutional capacity and inspire a new generation of ethically grounded researchers,” he said.
The three-day event will feature keynote addresses, plenary sessions, policy dialogues, panel discussions and hands-on workshops. Core topics include ethical decision-making, research policy development, data protection and sharing and sustaining institutional integrity frameworks.
IHVN, a leading health research institution in Nigeria, said attendance is free, although prior registration is required. Interested participants can register at https://ihvnigeria.org/excel-rite.
“This is more than an academic gathering – it’s a strategic moment to build trust in Nigerian research outputs and foster collaboration across the research ecosystem,” Mensah added.
