FG Commits To New Innovation To Drive Indigenous Healthcare Solutions

Vice President Kashim Shettima has launched ‘Grand Challenges Nigeria’ (GCNg), a national in­novation programme aimed at revolutionising Nigeria’s health­care landscape through locally developed solutions.

The initiative, which is part of the global Grand Challenges network, will focus on maternal and child health challenges in the first phase.

Speaking on Monday when he launched the GCNg at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Vice President Shettima told the au­dience that the initiative became necessary following an urgency occasioned by the rapid pace at which the world “is evolving in the realms of science and tech­nology.”

He stressed the importance of contextualising solutions to national challenges, citing this as “a cardinal message” of Pres­ident Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ad­ministration, just as he said the initiative will promote ground­breaking research and build local expertise, among others.

“This initiative is more than a response to problems; it is an ave­nue to promote groundbreaking research, build local expertise, form strategic partnerships, and engage communities in co-cre­ating culturally relevant solu­tions,” VP Shettima said.

He explained that the pro­gramme will integrate with ex­isting government healthcare initiatives, including the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Invest­ment Initiative (NHSRII) and the Nutrition 774 programme.

“What Grand Challenges Nigeria promises is transforma­tive: a Nigeria where every child has access to proper nutrition, where every family can rely on the quality of our healthcare system, and where our public health metrics continue to im­prove year after year,” the VP noted.

The Vice President also an­nounced an immediate call for proposals on “advancing inno­vative solutions for maternal, newborn, and child health, while explaining that the initiative will address various challenges, from infectious diseases to food securi­ty and climate resilience.

“Our gateway to innovation is rooted in recognising our place within the global commu­nity,” he stated, adding that “we must believe that our progress is intertwined with the progress of the rest of the world.”

Shettima emphasised that the Tinubu administration is “steadfast in its resolve to pro­vide the support needed to turn our aspirations into lifelines for our people.”

The vice president expressed anticipation for witnessing the ingenuity of Nigeria’s best minds, “whose innovations will receive the funding and support they deserve through this initia­tive.”

In his keynote remarks, Min­ister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, said the Grand Challenges Nige­ria is aimed at developing local solutions to critical issues con­fronting Nigerians.

The minister noted that the model aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 8-point agenda using innovation to drive prosperity and growth, and in the process, empowering researchers and innovators.

Nnaji noted that the ministry remains committed to fostering growth, using innovation, even as he assured that the Grand Challenges Nigeria will priori­tise key goals investment in edu­cation and environmentally sus­tainable projects, among others.