At a close-out dissemination meeting held in Abuja on Monday, officials reviewed the achievements of the Strengthening Global Health Security Agenda in Nigeria (SECURE-Nigeria) project. Implemented from 2020 to 2025 by the International Research Centre of Excellence at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IRCE-IHVN) with support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the project focused on enhancing the nation’s capacity to detect, respond to, and manage disease outbreaks.
Building Capacity Across National and Subnational Levels
Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), emphasised that “data quality is the cornerstone of effective public health action.” He noted that the project has significantly improved workforce capacity at both national and subnational levels, enabling teams to collect, analyse, and interpret public health data for timely interventions.
“The SECURE-Nigeria project has left a lasting legacy in laboratory optimisation, outbreak intelligence, workforce development, and emergency response coordination,” Dr. Idris said.
Closing Gaps and Strengthening Compliance
Project Director Dr. Rita Okonkwo described SECURE-Nigeria as a targeted intervention aimed at addressing gaps identified in Nigeria’s Joint External Evaluation and bolstering compliance with International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). The project partnered with NCDC, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, State Ministries of Health, and other key organisations to deliver improvements in surveillance, laboratory systems, data utilisation, infection prevention, and outbreak response.
One of the most notable outputs is the Data Analytical and Visualisation Tool (DAVT), launched in 2023. According to Dr. Okonkwo, the tool automatically generates weekly epidemiological reports, outbreak indicators, and multi-source data triangulation from platforms such as SORMAS, improving timely public-health decision-making.
To enhance the accuracy of inputs, IHVN also established a national Surveillance Data Quality Management System, supporting routine data reviews, accountability, and continuous improvement across the NCDC and supported states.
Enhanced Epidemic Intelligence and Laboratory Capacity
SECURE-Nigeria strengthened epidemic intelligence through the Acute Febrile Illness Sentinel Surveillance (AFISS) system and the Pan-Respiratory Disease Surveillance platform. AFISS, implemented in six sentinel states, provided laboratory-confirmed data on nine febrile pathogens, offering crucial insights for clinical and public-health interventions.
Dr. Sohia Oluwakemi Osawe, Senior Manager at IRCE-IHVN, highlighted that PCR-based diagnostic capacity for 11 priority diseases was expanded across seven national and subnational laboratories, significantly accelerating outbreak confirmation. The system enabled early detection of mpox in 2022 and identified rising dengue activity in 2025.
Other accomplishments include enhanced COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring, expanded infection prevention and control capacity, genomic sequencing for SARS-CoV-2, improved bio-banking, and large-scale serological surveillance using multiplex bead assay technology.
Workforce Development as a Cornerstone
A key component of SECURE-Nigeria was workforce development. Participants received advanced training in epidemiological analytics, continuous mentoring for outbreak data-analysis teams, and access to e-learning curricula designed to strengthen national and state-level public health capabilities.
Dr. Farah Husain, Programme Director at the US CDC, commended the partnership, noting that joint laboratory exercises and hands-on data analytics had significantly strengthened Nigeria’s public health preparedness.
Institutionalising Gains for Sustainability
Prof. Alash’le Abimiku, Executive Director of IRCE at IHVN, highlighted the institute’s role in research, laboratory system development, and public health training. She stressed that the dissemination meeting provided a platform to consolidate lessons and plan for the sustainability of strengthened systems.
Organisers emphasised that domestic financing and institutionalisation of SECURE-Nigeria’s tools, training, and systems are critical to maintaining enhanced surveillance, laboratory capacity, and outbreak response capabilities beyond donor funding. They also called for continued investment in workforce development, data quality management, and laboratory networks as foundational elements for timely outbreak detection and effective public-health action.