17th Annual Workshops and Conference: Advancing Quality Research Through Compliance
The West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA) successfully convened its 17th Annual Workshops and Conference in Abuja, Nigeria, from 11th to 14th May 2026, under the theme “Compliance = Quality Research.”
The conference, hosted by the West African College of Physicians, brought together research managers, academics, policymakers, and institutional leaders from across West Africa and beyond, the conference provided a strategic platform to strengthen research governance, enhance compliance systems, and promote high-quality, impactful research across the region.
In his opening remarks, WARIMA President, Mr. Dembo Kanteh emphasised the importance of continuous capacity development in advancing research excellence and building a resilient research management ecosystem across West Africa. “For 20 years, WARIMA has continued to grow through collective effort, strategic partnerships, and a shared commitment to advancing research and innovation management across West Africa and beyond. As research systems evolve, collaboration, compliance, and capacity strengthening will remain essential to building credible, impactful, and sustainable research ecosystems across Africa.”
A key highlight of the conference was the keynote address delivered by Professor Michael Faborode, who spoke on strengthening research systems through compliance, global collaboration, and strategic alignment with international funding frameworks. His remarks emphasised the need for African institutions to position themselves competitively while maintaining high standards of research integrity.
The conference programme featured a series of engaging plenary and parallel sessions addressing critical areas such as research ethics, due diligence, financial integrity, international collaborations, and capacity development for research managers. These sessions fostered cross-institutional learning and practical exchanges on how to build sustainable and compliant research systems.
The conference featured compelling presentations that addressed both longstanding challenges and emerging opportunities in research management. A presentation by Sylvia Antwiwaah Sarbah from the University of Ghana explored “Essential First Steps for New Research Managers in African Universities.” Her presentation highlighted the foundational skills, systems, and strategies needed to support effective research administration and strengthen institutional research capacity across African universities.
The event also featured insightful discussions on financial accountability in research through Momodou Gando’s presentation “Financial Integrity in International Research: Lessons from the MRC Unit, The Gambia.” As a Project Officer at the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, Momodou demonstrated the importance of transparent financial systems, compliance, and accountability in managing international research grants and partnerships.
Poster presentations showcased innovative research management practices and solutions addressing regional challenges, further demonstrating the growing strength and potential of the research management community in West Africa.
Preceding the main conference, participants engaged in intensive pre-conference workshops focused on Research Operations and Project Management, Impact Planning and Monitoring and Evaluation, Strategic Leadership and Career Development, Horizon Europe funding opportunities, and Good Financial Grant Practices. These sessions provided hands-on training aimed at strengthening competencies across all levels of research administration.
As WARIMA marks its 20th Anniversary, this year’s conference also served as a moment of reflection on two decades of advancing research and innovation management across West Africa.
WARIMA extends its appreciation to all partners and participants whose contributions continue to drive collaboration, strengthen capacity, and advance research excellence across the region.
Ahead of the main conference, participants engaged in intensive Pre-Conference Workshops held from 11th to 12th May 2026. These sessions offered practical, hands-on training focused on specialised areas of research management and the latest emerging technologies.
The success of the 17th Annual Conference reaffirms WARIMA’s commitment to building robust, compliant, and high-quality research systems that can respond effectively to regional and global challenges.