NIPRD records gains in research, staff welfare, public health

NIPRD Acting Director-General, Philip Builders

The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) says it has recorded progress in research, staff welfare, infrastructure and public health interventions under the leadership of its Acting Director-General, Philip Builders.

The institute highlighted the reforms in a statement issued on Friday, citing improvements in staff welfare, restoration of basic infrastructure, efforts to strengthen research funding and intellectual property management, and its recent response to the Ebola outbreak.

“His administration is committed to strengthening the Institute’s capacity to fulfil its mandate and contribute to Nigeria’s pharmaceutical development, scientific innovation, and improved healthcare outcomes,” it noted.

One of the administration’s interventions has been the constitution of an Ebola Response Team, headed by Peters Oladisu, Director of the Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology.

NIPRD said it also supplied 17 cartons of hand sanitiser gel and 2,000 educational posters on Ebola symptoms and preventive measures to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The institute said the intervention is part of its contribution to public awareness and prevention of emerging health threats.

NIPRD also cited improvements in staff welfare as part of the changes under Mr Builders.

The institute said it conducted its 2025 staff promotion exercise and addressed outstanding staff claims.

It also said salary arrears owed to security personnel, cleaners and gardeners had been settled.

Beyond staff-related measures, the institute said it restored electricity and water supply, which it described as critical to creating a more conducive environment for research and other activities.

NIPRD said it was also strengthening its research and innovation ecosystem by restructuring its Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office and Grant Office.

It has established an Office for Strategic Partnerships and Commercialisation, headed by Adeola Jegede, a scientist with experience in policy, monitoring and evaluation.

The office is expected to facilitate partnerships, attract research opportunities and support the commercialisation of products developed from research carried out by the institute.

An example of the institute’s research efforts is the success of its scientist, Isaac Ajeh, who won a NASENI Innovation Grant for research into converting plantain peels into pharmaceutical products.

The project seeks to explore how agricultural waste can be transformed into useful pharmaceutical products, highlighting the potential intersection between local research, healthcare and sustainable innovation.

NIPRD said it was also expanding its digital capacity through upgrades to its NCC Centre, computer-based testing facilities and other information and communication technology infrastructure.

According to the institute, the facilities will support computer-based examinations, digital research and technology-driven learning, while providing access to ICT facilities for schools in surrounding communities.

The administration has also supported researchers to participate in national and international training programmes, which the institute said would expose them to global best practices and strengthen scientific collaboration.

“Under Professor Builders’ leadership, NIPRD continues to pursue initiatives aimed at strengthening local pharmaceutical production, translating research into practical solutions, and improving Nigeria’s healthcare capacity,” it noted.