ACRES 2026 to Promote African Talent and Representation in Clinical Trials

The 2026 edition of the Africa’s Clinical Research Ecosystem Summit (ACRES) will take place on November 27 and 28 in Yaba, Lagos, with a focus on developing African talent and strengthening local capacity for clinical trials.

The summit will bring together students, healthcare professionals, researchers, academic institutions and industry stakeholders under the theme, “Redefining Representation & Talent in African Clinical Trials.”

Organisers said the event would help students and early-career professionals understand Africa’s clinical research ecosystem, explore career opportunities and connect with experienced practitioners in healthcare and research.

The convener of ACRES and Managing Director of United Clinical Trials Support Services (UCTSS), Aizehi Onoigboria, said the programme was designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

“We created this workshop so students could move beyond theory and start thinking in solutions, not just learning what clinical research is, but understanding how it works and where they fit into it,” she said.

A student who attended a previous session said the experience had changed her perspective on career opportunities in Nigeria.

“My key takeaway from the event is that your BSc is your base, what you do with that BSc, and how you specialise will determine your future,” the participant said.

Speakers scheduled for this year’s summit include Adesoji Ademuyiwa, Professor of Paediatric Surgery at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos; Ramalan Mansur, Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Internal Medicine; and Toyosi Raheem, Chief Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR).

Other speakers include Lisa Ursella Collins, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Innomas Clinical Research and a representative of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria; Onoigboria; and Yusuf Babatunde, Growth and Partnerships Manager at YLabs.

The programme will feature interactive sessions, networking opportunities and a group presentation initiative titled “Solutions that Strengthen Clinical Research Capacity in Nigeria”.

Through the initiative, participants will identify gaps in Nigeria’s clinical research ecosystem and develop practical proposals to address them, with the aim of strengthening the country’s research capabilities.

ACRES 2026 is supported by Biospherea, the National Public Health Network, the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, NIMR and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital.

Other supporting organisations include the Nigerian Association of Microbiology Students, the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students, the College of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science Students Association (UNILAG chapter) and Yaba College of Technology.

Registration is open to students, healthcare professionals, researchers and other interested stakeholders. Organisations seeking sponsorship, exhibition or partnership opportunities can also contact the ACRES team. Sponsorship contributions may be financial or in kind.