Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
DOCTORAL researcher at the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Michael Olaogun, has been selected as one of 16 fellows from across Africa for the Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative’s Individual Policy Exchange Programme (iPEP) Fellowship.
Olaogun, who is pursuing his doctoral studies at FUL’s Institute of Governance and Development Studies, is also Senior Programme and Innovation Manager at Research Enterprise Systems (RES).
The fellowship brings together emerging African researchers and policy practitioners working to strengthen the continent’s capacity to generate, translate and apply evidence to current and emerging health challenges.
Presenting his selection letter to FUL Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, Olaogun outlined the fellowship and the research project he will undertake over the next year.
Reacting to the development, Professor Ibileye expressed delight at the achievement and said the university was proud of Olaogun’s selection.
He noted that the fellowship would provide one of the university’s doctoral researchers with an opportunity to participate in international research and policy discussions on pandemic preparedness, research and innovation in Africa.
“Indeed, I am very happy that the University continues to gain global recognition through the dedication of the staff and students,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
Under the fellowship, Olaogun will engage with a cohort of African researchers and policy professionals working to advance evidence-informed policymaking, strengthen pandemic preparedness and response, and contribute to more resilient health systems across the continent.
His research project is titled “Research and Innovation Ecosystem for Pandemic Preparedness and Response in Africa: Perspectives from Nigeria and Mali.”
The study will examine the research and innovation ecosystems supporting pandemic preparedness and response in Nigeria and Mali.
It will focus on key areas including institutions, stakeholders, policies, financing mechanisms, partnerships and processes for translating research findings into policy and practice.
The research will be conducted in collaboration with a counterpart from the Université des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako (USTTB), Mali.
The collaboration is expected to facilitate cross-country learning and policy exchange between researchers in Nigeria and Mali, while generating insights into how research and innovation systems can better support pandemic preparedness and response.
Olaogun’s selection further highlights the research activities and international scholarly engagement of Federal University Lokoja, particularly the participation of its doctoral researchers in initiatives addressing national and continental development challenges.
The fellowship also provides an avenue for Olaogun to build on his academic and professional work while contributing to ongoing conversations around research, innovation and health-system resilience in Africa.
