Following the commencement of a series of trainings targeted at developing the capacity of policymakers in evidence-informed policymaking, Senior Policymakers in the Federal Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) and the Nigerian National Assembly have been urged to always make use of evidence synthesis reports to inform policy and programmatic decisions in the country.
The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi State, Prof Jesse Uneke made the call during the Second National Stakeholders’ Engagement Event which took place on May 30th 2024 at Rockview Classic Hotel Abuja.
Prof Uneke, who is also the Founder of the African Institute for Health Policy and Health Systems at Ebonyi State University, further emphasized the need for the development of the technical capacity of middle and senior-level policymakers on the use of context-specific evidence to support policy-making in Nigerian MDAs.
He stressed that the nation needs to shift to join focus on strengthening individual, organizational and national capacity to deliver goals and mandates in the human society.
Uneke informed participants that the meeting marked the commencement of a series of trainings targeted at developing the capacity of the policymakers in evidence-informed policy.
Our Correspondent reports that participants ithe n the event were drawn from the Federal Ministries of Health, Environment and Power, as well as the the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the National Assembly, Civil Society Organizations, and the media.
The meeting which was facilitated by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada, witnessed over 100 participants in attendance and also had guest facilitators.
The Guest facilitator of the event, Dr Violet Murunga of AFIDEP Kenya shared evidence-informederience of using evidence synthesis to inform policy while Dr Anna Ninsiima from Makerere University Uganda, spoke on integrating gender equity in evidence-informed policy institutionalization processes within government ministries and agencies.
During the group deliberations, participants pointed out the barriers to evidence policy-evidence-informed in their various ministries and agencies.
The participants appreciated the capacity strengthening that they received during the program and pledged to do their best in applying the acknowledgement.
Uneke informed participants that the meeting marked the commencement of series of trainings targeted at developing the capacity of the policymakers in evidence informed policymaking. He commended Tetfund for supporting research projects in Nigerian universities, and made a case for Tetfund to liaise with MDAs to identify their areas of policy priorities and commission research in those areas within the universities. During the group deliberations, participants pointed out the barriers to evidence informed policy-making processes in their various ministries and agencies. They appreciated the capacity strengthening they received and pledged to do their best in applying what they have learnt so far.
