Grand Challenges Nigeria (GCNg) has awarded seed funding to ten pioneering health innovation projects aimed at improving maternal, newborn, and child health across Nigeria. The funding marks the outcome of its inaugural Request for Proposals, titled “Advancing Innovative Solutions for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health.”
Following its official launch in November 2024, Grand Challenges Nigeria received hundreds of submissions, which were rigorously reviewed to select projects with high potential for impact, scalability, and adoption. All selected projects are led by Nigerian researchers and institutions, addressing urgent health challenges while rooted in local context.
“The selected projects demonstrate the power of Nigerian-led innovation to solve our most pressing public health challenges,” said Professor Folake Samuel, Program Director and Technical Lead of Grand Challenges Nigeria. “From AI-driven diagnostics to community-embedded digital tools and locally sourced medical formulations, these initiatives reflect the ingenuity and impact orientation of our local innovation ecosystem.”
Dr Evelyn Gitau, Chief Scientific Officer at the Science for Africa Foundation, which supports Grand Challenges Africa, added: “Africa’s health future lies in the hands of African innovators. By funding these 10 innovators, we’re not just supporting projects; we’re investing in a generation of scientists who will define the continent’s health priorities and lead lasting change.”
Each grantee will receive up to 60 million Naira for a 12- to 15-month implementation period, along with technical support, increased visibility, and opportunities for peer learning. The projects are expected to generate evidence for integration into Nigeria’s national health system and contribute to achieving the country’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“This is a proud moment for Nigerian science and innovation,” said Professor Salisu Abubakar, President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria. “We are unlocking pathways to reduce maternal and child mortality, promote data-driven decision-making, and build sustainable solutions tailored for Nigerian communities.”
The funded projects include:
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Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State – Prof. Stephen Oguche: Using point-of-care biomarkers and next-generation sequencing to guide neonatal sepsis management in low-resource settings.
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Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State – Prof. Ezekiel Akinkunmi: Developing oil-based umbilical cord care gels to prevent and treat omphalitis in newborns.
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Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State – Dr. Chidinma Akanazu: A hybrid digital and community-based platform to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
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Maternal and Reproductive Health Research Collective, Lagos State – Prof. Bosede Afolabi: Linking pregnant women in informal settlements to life-saving emergency obstetric and newborn care through the MamaLink Project.
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Institute of Child Health, University of Ibadan, Oyo State – Dr. Adebolajo Adeyemo: Training primary healthcare workers to identify birth defects in newborns.
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Babcock University, Ogun State – Dr. Victor Ayeni: Conducting a randomized controlled trial on N-Acetylcysteine for improved outcomes in perinatal asphyxia.
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Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State – Uchechukwu Chukwuocha: Deploying an interactive digital solution for self-risk assessment in maternal and child health.
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University of Lagos, Lagos State – Dr. Babasola Okusanya: Developing a predictive model for severe preeclampsia among pregnant women.
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Centre for Family Health Initiative, Abuja – Krystal Chinenye Anyanwu: Innovating community-led healthcare solutions under the BIRTH project.
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Federal Medical Centre, Abia State – Dr. Ugochukwu Onyeonoro: Leveraging AI to enable non-specialist healthcare workers to conduct cervical cancer screening.
The initiative is jointly anchored by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology. “Grand Challenges Nigeria represents a bold commitment to science, technology, and innovation as drivers of national development,” said Adebayo A. Adeyemi, Director of Health and Bio-medical Sciences at the Ministry.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, emphasized the broader significance: “When we back bold ideas with belief and resources, we awaken the genius of our nation. These innovations are seeds of a healthier Nigeria — locally grown, scientifically grounded, and globally relevant.”
Grand Challenges Nigeria is part of the global Grand Challenges network, which includes funders such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and is coordinated to support locally driven innovations with global impact.
