On November 28, 2025, UCTSS hosted its first student-focused workshop, “Building the Next Generation of Clinical Researchers in Nigeria,” at the University of Abuja.
The workshop was designed to introduce undergraduate students to clinical research as a viable career path and to demonstrate its relevance within Nigeria’s healthcare and clinical research ecosystem.
Why Nigeria Needs More Clinical Research Professionals
UCTSS was established with a mission to strengthen clinical research capacity in Nigeria and across Africa.
For global clinical trials to generate meaningful and equitable outcomes, they must reflect the populations they aim to serve. This requires more than recruiting participants; it requires developing local talent, strengthening research infrastructure, and creating early pathways into the clinical research workforce.
Starting with students is intentional.
Most clinical research training programs are targeted at established professionals, academics, or senior researchers. As a result, undergraduate students and early-career individuals who are curious about clinical research often struggle to understand:
- What roles exist in clinical research
- How drug development works
- What skills should they begin to build
- Where to find entry points into the field
By engaging students early, UCTSS is helping to demystify clinical research, creating awareness at the foundational level and building a sustainable pipeline of informed professionals who can grow into Nigeria’s future clinical research workforce.
Inside UCTSS’s First Student Workshop at the University of Abuja
The sessions covered the basics, how clinical trials are designed and monitored, why ethics and regulation matter, how drug safety works, and the role of data and technology in research.
Our facilitators set the tone for the entire workshop with sessions that broke clinical research down in a clear, practical way:
Oladimeji-Salami Joy PhD, introduced students to the fundamentals of clinical research, ethics, and regulatory expectations in Nigeria and globally. This session helped students understand the ethical foundation that guides all clinical research activities.
Mansur Ramalan explained the scientific backbone of clinical trials, including study design, drug development pathways, and the role of clinical pharmacology. Students learned how drugs move from laboratory concepts to approved treatments
Priscilla Aondona took students through Nigeria’s regulatory landscape, NAFDAC expectations, and the role of strong oversight in protecting the integrity of studies. Understanding regulation is crucial for anyone entering the clinical research field.
Abigail Irefu spoke about data management, data quality, and how digital tools are transforming clinical research. As the industry becomes increasingly data-driven, these skills are essential for the next generation of researchers.
One of the most engaging parts of the day was the group presentation challenge.
Students were divided into teams such as Research Rangers, Team Quantum, Team Eclipes and Team SCRAH, and asked to identify gaps in Nigeria’s clinical research landscape and suggest practical ways to address them.
The presentations showed strong thinking, curiosity, and creativity. Students applied what they had learned, asked critical questions, and proposed ideas around awareness, data literacy, ethics, and community engagement.
Team SCRAH emerged as the winning group, but across all teams, the quality of discussion stood out and reflected the level of interest in the room.
Hear what the participants had to say:
“A big thank you for organising and bringing us that impactful session. It came at a time when I was second-guessing studying biochemistry, as I imagined there were little to no career options in Nigeria. My key takeaway from the event is that your BSc is your base, what you do with that BSc, and how you specialise will determine your future.”
“We truly appreciate the opportunity to present and learn. This experience has strengthened our passion for building Nigeria’s research future. Thank you for believing in us.”
“This was my first direct exposure to clinical research in such a practical setting. I appreciate being included in conversations about the future of healthcare.”
“I am delighted to have attended the UTSS yesterday. The programme was insightful and well-organized. I truly appreciate the team for their dedication and support. Thank you for the wonderful experience.”
Building Nigeria’s Clinical Research Pipeline: Next Steps
This workshop reinforced to us that Nigerian students are capable and ready for more exposure when given the opportunity.
At UCTSS, we plan to continue engaging students through future workshops and related initiatives, and we welcome partnerships with organisations and sponsors who share this commitment to developing Nigeria’s clinical research workforce.
By supporting early exposure and learning, we aim to contribute to a future where Nigeria plays a stronger and more confident role in global clinical research.
Are you an educational institution, sponsor, or organisation interested in supporting the next generation of clinical researchers in Nigeria? We’d love to hear from you.
Reach out to us at: info@unitedclinicalss.com
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