The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Grand Challenges Nigeria are set to bring together government officials, researchers and development partners in Abuja to explore ways of expanding the adoption of locally developed healthcare solutions.

The 2026 Annual Meeting and Innovation Exchange, scheduled for November 13, will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss how research-driven ideas can be translated into practical interventions capable of improving healthcare delivery across the country.

The meeting, themed “Innovation to Impact: Evidence, Adoption, Uptake and Scale for Better Health in Nigeria,” will focus on the policies, institutional structures and sustainable financing needed to move promising health innovations beyond the research stage.

Eight projects supported by Grand Challenges Nigeria and targeting maternal, newborn and child health challenges will be presented during the event.

The initiatives cover different areas of healthcare, including newborn sepsis diagnosis, umbilical cord care, digital healthcare support for communities, emergency referrals for pregnant women, identification of birth defects and research into perinatal asphyxia.

Other projects include digital tools designed to assess pregnancy-related risks, particularly complications associated with severe pre-eclampsia.

Discussions will also examine how successful innovations can be replicated across states, supported by appropriate financing and integrated into existing healthcare systems.

The involvement of the NGF is expected to strengthen the participation of state governments, which play a significant role in healthcare delivery and the implementation of health policies at the subnational level.

The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, will also contribute a Policy Lab to examine the institutional decisions and frameworks required to translate research findings into practical healthcare interventions.

Established in November 2024, Grand Challenges Nigeria is a national platform supporting locally driven research and innovation in health and food security.

The initiative is anchored by the Nutrition Society of Nigeria and works in partnership with the Office of the Vice-President and the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

It receives support from the Gates Foundation, with technical assistance from the Science for Africa Foundation, as part of efforts to promote innovative solutions to development challenges.

Organisers say the gathering will provide an opportunity to identify the research evidence, partnerships and financial support required to advance promising projects and improve healthcare outcomes in Nigeria.