Research alone can’t fix Nigeria’s Healthcare crisis — Prof. Onoka

May 22, 2026

By Chinedu Adonu

A Professor of Public Health and Health Systems Economics at the University of Nigeria, Prof. Chima Onoka, has said that research alone cannot transform Nigeria’s healthcare system without effective policy implementation and political engagement.

Onoka stated this while delivering the 241st Inaugural Lecture of the university titled, “Bridging the Divide: The Pracademic’s Mandate in the Quest for Universal Health Coverage.”

He said Nigeria’s healthcare reforms require professionals who combine academic expertise with practical policy, advocacy, and implementation skills, describing such individuals as “pracademics.”