The Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, is taking steps to bridge the gap between scientific research and public policies in Africa. Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bashiru Garba, stated this at the opening of the CAMRET–OHI Joint International Conference in Sokoto. The conference, themed "Harnessing Research, Innovation and Partnership for One Health Solutions to Emerging Health and Environmental Challenges in Africa," aims to address Africa's complex health and environmental challenges.
Prof. Garba noted that Africa cannot effectively confront infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental degradation through isolated interventions. He emphasized the need for collaboration among researchers, health professionals, policymakers, communities, and institutions across different sectors. The vice-chancellor stressed that the university's responsibility is not only to generate knowledge but also to translate research findings into policies, innovations, and interventions that can improve lives.
The Usmanu Danfodiyo University has demonstrated its commitment to research-driven solutions through various initiatives. The Centre for Advanced Medical Research and Training (CAMRET) has worked on vaccine candidates for Lassa fever and COVID-19, established a COVID-19 screening centre, and provided postgraduate training in Cancer Biology. Additionally, the university's One Health Institute has introduced a Master of One Health programme, the first dedicated professional master's programme of its kind in Africa.
The One Health Institute has graduated its first cohort of students and established the African Journal of One Health to support research and knowledge exchange. Prof. Garba urged participants to focus on developing solutions that can be translated from laboratories and academic institutions to communities where they are most needed. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing to address Africa's complex health and environmental challenges.
A keynote speaker from Gazipur Agricultural University, Bangladesh, highlighted the need to combine scientific innovation with local knowledge. The speaker cited Bangladesh's experience in combining farmer-conserved rice varieties with modern breeding technologies to develop crops that can survive flooding and salinity. The presentation also referenced digital disease surveillance initiatives in Malawi and Rwanda as examples of how technology can improve responses to public health threats.
Prof. Musa Kana, Professor of Perinatal and Paediatric Epidemiology at Kaduna State University, identified inadequate funding and fragmented governance as major obstacles to effective One Health implementation in Africa. He also pointed to professional rivalry among medical doctors, veterinarians, and environmental scientists as a barrier to collaboration. Kana called for dedicated and sustainable One Health budget lines at federal and state levels, as well as legislation to institutionalize responsibilities across relevant sectors.
The Director of OHI, Prof. Bello Arkilla Magaji, and the Director of CAMRET, Dr. Ibrahim Malami, announced plans to establish the Nigeria One Health Universities Network to extend the university's model to other institutions across the country. They also disclosed that the institute is proposing a training-of-trainers programme for deans and directors of faculties involved in One Health-related disciplines. However, they identified sustainable funding, faculty retention, and curriculum harmonization as key challenges facing the programme.
Key points
- The Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, is seeking to strengthen the translation of scientific research into public policies and community-based interventions to address Africa's complex health and environmental challenges.
- The university's One Health Institute has introduced a Master of One Health programme, the first dedicated professional master's programme of its kind in Africa.
- Inadequate funding, fragmented governance, and professional rivalry are major obstacles to effective One Health implementation in Africa.
