Dr. Adaeze Oreh Moderates Key Panel as NISA 2025 Opens in Abuja
Rivers State–born Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh took center stage on Day 1 of the 10th Nigeria Implementation Science Alliance (NISA) Conference in Abuja, where she moderated a high-level panel discussion on “Innovation in Policy and Reform for Sustainable Growth through Local Action (From Investment to Impact).” Since its introduction two years ago, the session has consistently stood out as one of the conference’s highlights.
The panel featured Dr. Muhammad Lawan Gana, Honourable Commissioner for Health, Yobe State; Dr. Marcellina Tomi Coker, Honourable Commissioner for Health, Ogun State; and Dr. Ibrahim Dangana, Honourable Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Niger State. Together, they shared practical ideas and bold initiatives from their respective states spanning pharmaceuticals, medicines and supplies, maternal health, human resources for health, health financing, and primary healthcare infrastructure. Notably, the four states represented—Yobe, Ogun, Niger, and Rivers—collectively increased their health workforce by 9,000 in the past year.
Dr. Oreh kept the discussion engaging, with audience contributions adding depth to the conversation, particularly around the importance of process evaluation and documenting lessons from both successes and failed initiatives. Reflecting on the active participation, she remarked: “I had earlier threatened to blow a gasket if the audience didn’t engage, and I am certainly glad to report that they gave me no reason to! My work was therefore done.”
Earlier in the day, Prof. Prosper Okonkwo opened the conference with a powerful reflection on APIN’s 10-year journey as a proud member of NISA, underscoring how the alliance has strengthened interventions and improved health outcomes nationwide.
Breakout sessions also featured APIN’s Director of Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr. Olabanjo Ogunsola, who led a lively discussion on community engagement strategies in implementation research. Using the NIH-funded CHESS Project as a case study, panelists from Emory University, the University of Ibadan, and the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) highlighted how community-based approaches are advancing cervical cancer screening in Nigeria.
The energy, insights, and collaborations from Day 1 underscored why NISA conferences continue to matter. Delegates left inspired, challenged, and eager for the conversations and breakthroughs that Day 2 will bring.
