The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a value-based approach to healthcare by promoting integrity, ethical leadership and accountability as fundamental tools in tackling Nigeria’s complex health challenges.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the close of a three-day national conference themed “Exploring Excellence in Ethical Conduct, Leadership for Research Integrity Through Empowerment (EXCEL-RITE),” the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako emphasised the need to institutionalise ethics at every level of the health system. He was represented by the special adviser on research and innovation, Dr. Lolade Adeyemi.
The EXCEL-RITE conference, jointly organised by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) and other national and international partners, focused on cultivating a culture of transparency, ethical research and accountable leadership across academia, government, and industry.
Salako stressed that meaningful change in the health sector goes beyond technical expertise and requires values-driven reform. “Addressing complex issues like maternal and child mortality, infectious diseases, and noncommunicable diseases requires more than technical expertise; it demands a value-driven approach,” he said. He highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at improving transparency in procurement, enhancing research oversight and strengthening primary healthcare delivery systems.
He applauded the conference organisers for bringing together stakeholders committed to integrity and urged participants to turn dialogue into actionable outcomes. “Integrity is not a slogan; it is a practice that must be embedded in every layer of our work. Our success depends not only on what we do but on how we do it,” he added.
Managing director of IHVN, Dr. Charles Mensah underscored the role of resilience, mentorship and openness to change in shaping impactful leadership. He encouraged participants to be introspective, embracing accountability and self-awareness in leadership and research. “Sometimes life redirects you from your original path, but with resilience, integrity and mentorship, you can find purpose, growth and ultimately success, even in unexpected places,” he said.
Mensah stressed that public policies must be rooted in empathy and real-life contexts. “If policies are disconnected from people’s behaviour and environments, they fail. If they’re empathetic and responsive, they succeed,” he said. He also urged researchers to embrace self-assessment and inclusive collaboration. “There’s no age barrier to networking. Reach out to professors. Dismantle academic snobbery. We grow when we grow together,” he added.
On behalf of IHVN, Mensah announced a plan to sponsor the training of 100 professionals, covering full logistics, while reaffirming IHVN’s commitment to resource mobilisation and sustained advocacy for ethical research in Nigeria. “This is how vision meets execution. Research creates innovation. Don’t see yourself as ‘just a small person.’ The young shall grow by learning and by doing. This must not die,” he said.
Throughout the three-day EXCEL-RITE conference, participants engaged in capacity-building workshops, peer learning sessions, and collaborative discussions aimed at improving research standards and practices. Emphasis was placed on evidence-based policymaking, combating scientific misconduct, and ensuring that ethical principles guide all stages of research, from conception to dissemination.
The conference ended with a collective pledge from stakeholders to strengthen institutional capacities, enhance mentorship frameworks and embed ethics as a foundational value within Nigeria’s health and research systems.
