Nigeria has thrown its weight behind a new ‘Health Knowledge Compendium’, describing it as a practical tool to ensure that scientific evidence informs real-world health policies and programmes.
The compendium, developed by the Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR), was launched on Friday in Abuja during the Nigeria Implementation Science Alliance Conference.
Despite decades of research on Nigeria’s health sector, experts say findings often remain inaccessible to decision-makers, buried in academic journals and rarely adapted to local realities.
The compendium seeks to close this gap by consolidating lessons from field-based programmes and presenting them in a form that policymakers and health managers can apply directly.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, praised the initiative, stressing that research in Nigeria must move beyond “publication’s sake” and directly address systemic challenges.
“This document brings together practical, field-based research and highlights key lessons. It’s a very valuable contribution. Research must meet international standards but must also speak to the unique problems facing our health system,” Salako said.
He added that the Federal Government had reorganised its research committee to improve coordination and visibility, noting that partnerships with organisations like SCIDaR would fast-track sustainable progress.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina, described the compendium as timely, noting that Nigeria is rolling out many new health initiatives.
“When you are determined to accelerate impact, you need tools that provide guidance and knowledge. This compendium is exactly that—a guide for continuous learning,” Aina said.
SCIDaR’s Chief Executive Officer, Uchenna Igbokwe, said the idea was to make health evidence more usable and accessible.
“Nigeria is not short of research. What we lack is the translation of findings into actionable policies. This compendium helps bridge that divide,” he said.
With the government, development partners, and researchers aligned, stakeholders say the new compendium could mark a turning point in evidence-based policymaking—helping Nigeria strengthen its fragile health system and deliver better outcomes for millions.
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