The Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, has assured that the Institute is determined to transform the cancer research landscape in the country through scientific excellence and impactful scholarship.
He stated this while declaring open the oral proposal presentation of the Intermediate Range Capacity Building (IRCB) Programme which was put together by NICRAT’s department of Research and Innovation in partnership with Sydani Group, in Abuja, yesterday.
Prior to the oral presentation, the participants went through a10- day hybrid in-class capacity building funded by NICRAT. The training was designed to strengthen internal research competence within the Institute.
The programme focused on enhancing skills in oncology and health research design, grant development, ethical compliance, and project implementation.
While declaring the event open, Prof. Malami commended the participants for their commitment to advancing knowledge, strengthening evidence, and improving practice through research.
Represented by a Consultant with the Department of Cancer Prevention and Control of the Institute, Dr Nandi Ishaya Tokkit, the NICRAT Director General said: “Research remains the foundation of innovation, policy development, and sustainable progress.
“The work being presented today reflects not only intellectual rigor but also our collective responsibility to generate evidence that addresses real-world challenges and informs decision-making.
“As an institution, we are committed to fostering a culture of inquiry, scientific excellence, and impactful scholarship.
“I encourage our presenters to share their findings with clarity and confidence.”
Earlier, the Head of Research and Innovation department at NICRAT, Dr. Chinyere Okafor, explained that the event was not merely an academic exercise but that, “it is the formal inauguration of a stronger research culture and the foundation of what will become a robust Grant Management Office within NICRAT.”
According to her: “Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and its designation as a notifiable disease underscores the urgency of our mandate.
“The burden we face demands more than incremental change. It calls for innovation in early detection, transformative therapeutic strategies, precision oncology, AI-enabled care pathways, and well-designed clinical trials that respond to the realities of our patient population. As an institution whose core mandate is research, we must lead this charge.”
Dr. Okafor further assured that her department is committed to cultivating an ecosystem where creativity, collaboration, and high-impact science can thrive., adding that: “Today’s presentations are the product of intentional capacity building through our intermediate training program delivered by Department of Research and Innovation, NICRAT and supported by dedicated mentors.”
