UNIOSUN Lecturer Dr Iyanuoluwa Adufe Wins Competitive Grant to Improve Antimicrobial Use in Nigeria

UNIOSUN lecturer Dr Iyanuoluwa Adufe has secured a 2026 ACDI research grant to study antimicrobial stewardship and combat antimicrobial resistance in Nigeria.

Dr Adufe’s research proposal, titled “The BRIDGE Trial: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Co-Created One Health Behavioural Intervention to Improve Antimicrobial Stewardship in Nigeria,” was selected for funding following a competitive assessment by local and international experts.

The grant, supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, will fund a research project designed to generate evidence that can strengthen antimicrobial stewardship practices and contribute to evidence-based policymaking in Nigeria.

The project is scheduled to run from August 17, 2026, to July 31, 2027, during which Dr Adufe and her research team will investigate a behavioural intervention aimed at improving how antimicrobial medicines are used and managed.

Antimicrobial stewardship has become an important public health concern because inappropriate use of antimicrobial medicines can contribute to antimicrobial resistance, making infections increasingly difficult to treat and creating wider risks for individuals and health systems.

The BRIDGE Trial adopts a One Health approach, recognising the links between human health, animal health and the environment in addressing health challenges. Its focus on a co-created behavioural intervention is also intended to generate practical evidence that can be applied within relevant communities and health settings.

According to the award letter signed by ACDI Executive Director, Professor Charles Teye Amoatey, the project is expected to contribute to the growing body of rigorous and policy-relevant research required to support evidence-informed development practice across Africa.

The organisation also indicated that Dr Adufe would become part of its network of African researchers committed to producing research evidence capable of informing public policy and improving development outcomes.

As part of the grant conditions, the researcher and her team will be required to submit quarterly progress reports and a final technical and financial report at the completion of the project.

The research is also expected to produce at least one scholarly publication, while the findings will be presented to relevant policymakers and decision-makers through a dedicated dissemination forum.

The grant provides UNIOSUN with another opportunity to contribute to research addressing a major public health challenge while strengthening the connection between academic research and policy development.

Reacting to the achievement, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, congratulated Dr Adufe and described the award as evidence of the quality and relevance of research being undertaken by academics at the university.

Adebooye said the achievement reflected the institution’s commitment to promoting research capable of addressing pressing societal problems and producing practical solutions that can influence policy and improve citizens’ lives.

He also noted that the grant further strengthened UNIOSUN’s growing reputation as a research-driven institution whose academics are competing successfully for competitive external funding and contributing to important national and continental conversations.

The Vice-Chancellor commended Dr Adufe for her research achievement and encouraged other academics at the university to pursue innovative, interdisciplinary and impact-driven research capable of attracting competitive funding and contributing to sustainable development.

The latest award also adds to UNIOSUN’s record of externally funded research projects and academic achievements, reinforcing the university’s emphasis on research excellence, innovation, evidence-based policymaking and international academic engagement.

For Dr Adufe and her research team, the year-long project represents an opportunity to generate locally relevant evidence on antimicrobial stewardship while demonstrating how university-based research can contribute directly to addressing public health challenges in Nigeria.