The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has officially inaugurated the Clinical Trial Centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), marking a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen clinical research, innovation, and evidence-based healthcare.

The commissioning took place over the weekend during the minister’s visit to the teaching hospital, where he also launched the Federal Government’s distribution of emergency obstetric and newborn care equipment, essential commodities, and delivery kits. As part of the visit, Pate inspected several ongoing infrastructure projects within the hospital.

Speaking during the inauguration, ATBUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Yusuf Bara Jibrin, described the establishment of the Clinical Trial Centre as a major milestone in the institution’s drive to expand medical research and improve healthcare outcomes through high-quality, ethical clinical trials that meet international standards.

According to Jibrin, the facility will facilitate research into vaccines, medicines, diagnostics, and other health interventions. He added that it will also serve as a platform for training healthcare professionals, encouraging scientific collaboration, and generating locally relevant evidence to address Nigeria’s priority health challenges.

The Chief Medical Director expressed appreciation to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia (MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM), acknowledging their technical support, partnership, and commitment, which played a crucial role in establishing the centre.

Jibrin also commended the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, for prioritising investments in research, innovation, and strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Also speaking, the hospital’s Head of Relations and Protocol Unit, Usman Abdullahi Koli, said the Clinical Trial Centre is expected to position ATBUTH as a leading centre for clinical research, capacity building, and collaboration with both national and international partners. He noted that the facility would contribute to improved patient care and better health outcomes across Nigeria and beyond.

Koli further reaffirmed the commitment of the hospital’s management to sustaining the Clinical Trial Centre as a centre of excellence that will support groundbreaking research, promote innovation, and advance healthcare delivery in line with ATBUTH’s mandate of service, training, and research.