FUL Doctoral Researcher Michael Olaogun Selected for Africa Pandemic Sciences Fellowship

A 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 a doctoral researcher at FUL’s Institute of Governance and Development Studies and Senior Programme and Innovation Manager at Research Enterprise Systems (RES), was selected for the fellowship alongside emerging African researchers and policy practitioners working to strengthen the continent’s capacity to generate and apply evidence to current and emerging health challenges.

He recently presented his selection letter to the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, and briefed him on the fellowship and the research he will undertake over the next one year.

Reacting to the development, Professor Ibileye expressed delight at Olaogun’s selection, describing it as an opportunity for one of the university’s doctoral researchers 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.

As part of the fellowship, Olaogun will spend one year researching “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, focusing on institutions, key actors, policies, financing mechanisms, partnerships and knowledge translation processes.

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.

The fellowship will also provide Olaogun with opportunities to engage with African researchers and policy professionals working to advance evidence-informed policymaking, strengthen pandemic preparedness and response, and support the development of more resilient health systems across the continent.

Olaogun’s selection adds to the growing research and scholarly visibility of Federal University Lokoja and highlights the participation of its doctoral researchers in international research initiatives addressing national and continental development priorities.

His research interests and professional experience include health policy, research, policy analysis and institutional development. He has contributed to studies on the roles and efficiency of the National Health Insurance Scheme in quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria, policy initiatives on maternal mortality, the use of Artificial Intelligence to strengthen health systems, and the governance of Artificial Intelligence for global health in Africa, including reviews of policy and regulatory frameworks.

The Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative is a joint initiative of the Science for Africa Foundation, the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford and the Mastercard Foundation. The initiative seeks to strengthen Africa’s pandemic sciences ecosystem by supporting African researchers, fostering collaboration and creating pathways through which research evidence can inform policy and practice.

Through the iPEP Fellowship, Olaogun is expected to strengthen his research networks, deepen his understanding of pandemic sciences and policy ecosystems across Africa, and contribute to knowledge exchange among researchers and policymakers in Nigeria, Mali and beyond.

For Federal University Lokoja, his participation provides another platform for the institution to contribute to global and continental discussions on health, research and innovation.