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Environmental Management & Energy Investigative Research

Translating Research Evidence into Policy and Practice

Translating Research Evidence into Policy and Practice (TREPP) is an initiative of Blue Gate Research Institute in partnership with Oyo State House of Assembly and Oyo State Ministry of Health to ensure knowledge translation, research findings utilization, implementation, diffusion, and dissemination to policy makers.

Broad Objective

The broad objective of this project is to generate knowledge, ensure translation, transfer, exchange, utilization, implementation, and dissemination to policy makers.

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of this project are to

  1. Undertake, promote and coordinate research
  2. Use research evidence for community development and interventions
  3. Bring policy makers together for research discussions
  4. Use evidence to develop bills, policies, manuals and programme implementation
  5. Provide research champion award to eminent researchers
  6. Organise international conference and patent exhibition
  7. Capacity building of young investigators through a training/workshop
  8. Publication of research findings
  9. Organised international research festival.
Target Participants

The target participants of this project are policy makers who are who are Members of Oyo State House of Assembly including the Speaker; Local Government Chairmen, PHC Coordinators and Medical Officers for Health; Vice-Chancellors of Universities and Provost of College of Medicine; Permanent Secretaries and Directors of State Ministry of Health and Hospital Management Board; University Researchers; Chief Medical Directors of Teaching Hospitals; Postgraduate students (PhD); Media Personnel; Head of health and other health related parastatals; Civil Society Organizations and other necessary Stakeholders in Oyo State, Nigeria will be invited to attend this programme.

Project Coordination

This project is being coordinated by the Chairman, House Committee on Health of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Chief Research Officer of Blue Gate Research Institute

Project Advisors

The project (TREPP) has two advisors Professors Olufunmilola Fawole and Ayodele Jegede who are responsible for the planning and implementation TREPP activities with project coordinators.

The inauguration and first edition of TREPP project was held on December 18, 2017 at the Oyo State House Assembly, Ibadan. The programme had in attendance Members of Oyo State House of Assembly, Commissioner for Health and his entourage (Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and all the Directors), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnership) of the University of Ibadan (represented), PHC Coordinators and Medical Officers of Health in all the five Local Government Areas in Ibadan metropolis. Other participants include, Deans of Faculties (Clinical Sciences, Basic Medical Science, Public Health, Social Sciences), twenty-three Heads of health and health-related Department from the University of Ibadan, Postgraduate students (PhD), Consultants and Residents Doctors from the University College Hospital, Representatives of Religion Organisations and Media Personnel from AIT, Galaxy, Space FM to mention a few.

Event

The programme started with the National Anthem and a welcome address by Mrs. Taiwo Iyabo (MC). Dr. Ademola Adelekan (President/CEO, Blue Gate Initiative) gave an opening remark by summarizing the TREPP project and its aims and objectives. Shortly after the opening remark, the citation of the Pioneer Presenter and the Principal Investigator (PI) of the Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network (SIREN) project, Professor Mayowa Owolabi was read by Dr. Atinuke Agunloye. Professor Mayowa Owolabi presented one of the findings of the SIREN project titled “Dominant Risk Factors for Stroke Among Africans: Findings from the SIREN Large Multisite Study”. The overall goal of the SIREN study is to evaluate the premier genetic and environmental risk factors for stroke in sub-saharan Africa. Professor Owolabi’s presentation was followed by questions and answers session which lasted for about 30 minutes.

Presentation of Award

The “Pioneer Presenter Award” presented to Professor Mayowa Owolabi immediately after his presentation by the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan. The award was presented to him as the first PI to make a presentation under the TREPP Project. Thereafter, Professor David Olaleye was presented with “Research Champion Award” the representative of the Honourable Speaker. This award was designed to acknowledge and appreciate eminent researchers who have made significant contribution to public health research in Oyo State.

Conclusion

In conclusion of the August event, Hon. Silas Okunlola who is the Chairman, House Committee on Health gave the vote of thanks, and assured that the findings of the SIREN project will be used to develop Stroke Prevention and Control Policy for Oyo State and the policy will be presented to the public during the second edition of TREPP project.

This residential workshop was a second phase of TREPP maiden edition and a total of 26 participants who are members of House Committee on Health of the Oyo State House of Assembly, PI and Co-Investigators of SIREN study, Advisors and Coordinators of TREPP Project participated in the workshop. Other participants were representatives of Blue Gate Initiative, Oyo State Ministry of Health and University of Ibadan led by the Deputy vice-chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnership). The workshop was held 16 & 17, 2018 at Begonia Hotel, Ilora, Oyo and used to further provide researchers and policy makers with essential knowledge of SIREN project, and development of stroke prevention bill and community manual for Oyo State. The bill and community manual were developed using research findings from the SIREN study. The workshop was coordinated by TREPP advisors Professors Olufunmilayo Fawole and Ayodele Jegede. The workshop kicked off at 11:00am with opening speech by Dr. Ademola Adelekan followed by self-introduction of the participants. Afterwards, a short presentation on the objectives of the workshop was made by Professor Olufunmilola Fawole. The PI of SIREN study was thereafter invited to make a presentation on the key findings of SIREN project and this was followed with a presentation titled “The role of town and gown in research to policy” made by Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, Deputy Vice-chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnership), University of Ibadan. She laid emphasis on how beneficial the cordial relationship between the town (the politicians) and the gown (the academia) would better the living conditions of the masses in the community. Afterwards, two groups (A&B) were formed to develop Bill and community manual for stroke prevention and control. Group A developed TREPP-SIREN Bill while Group B developed TREPP-SIREN community manual. Hon. Gbenga Oyekola and Professor Ogunniyi chaired the Bill and Manual groups respectively. Several plenaries were held during the workshop to allow each group to present their work progress and for participants to make further suggestions.

Appreciation & Conclusion

The two day workshop was brought to a close with recitation of the second stanza of the national anthem, and expression of gratitude by Hon. Silas Okunola and Prof. Mayowa Owolabi. Dr. Ademola Adelekan also in turn extended his appreciation to all the participants for their cooperation, patience and hard work all through the two day workshop.

Public Presentation of Evidence-Based TREPP-SIREN Stroke Prevention Bill and Manual

This event was used for the public presentation of Evidence-based Bill and Community Manual for Stroke Prevention and Control which are the two deliverables of the maiden edition of this project. Both the Bill and Manual were generated from SIREN study. The deliverables were publicly presented on December 8, 2018 at the Oyo State House of Assembly with an opening speech by the Honourable Speaker. The Bill was reviewed by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari who is a senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District and was presented to the Honourable Speaker by the representative (Dr. Oyewole Lawal) of the Honourable Commissioner for Health. The Honourable Speaker, Hon. Olagunju Ojo when commenting promised a speedy passage of the bill.

The community manual, on the other hand, was reviewed by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police (Medical) Dr. Wilson Akhiwu and this was followed by an interactive session anchor by SIREN PI Professor Mayowa Owolabi who is also the Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ibadan. Participants have the opportunities of leaving the venue with a copy each for themselves. The Deputy Speaker (Hon. Abdulwasi Musah), Oyo State House of Assembly assured TREPP coordinators (Hon. Silas Okunlola, Dr. Oyewole Lawal and Dr. Ademola Adelekan) of continuous support from the Oyo State house of Assembly. The second edition second is scheduled to hold March 2019.

Award Presentation

Two Professors of the University of Ibadan, Professor Oladimeji Oladepo of the Department of Health Promotion and Education and Professor Akinyinka Omigbodun of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology were presented with Research Award as an acknowledgment and reward of their contribution to public health research in Oyo State. Professor Oladepo was presented with “An Award of Excellence in Health Promotion and Education” while Professor Omigbodun was presented with “An Award of Excellence in Maternal Health”. The award came with a certificate signed by the Honourable Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly.

The Chairman, Oyo State House of Assembly House Committee on Health (Hon. Silas Okunlola) was also presented with “An Award of Commendation” to show gratitude for his supports, loyalty and contributions to the success of TREPP Project.

How to Write Scholarly Articles and Publication in Peer-Reviewed Journals

Members of staff of the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), Ibadan on Nov. 10, 2020 were provided with TREPP Capacity Building Workshop on "How to Write Scholarly Articles and Publication in Peer-Reviewed Journals". The workshop was primarily coordinated by Professors Fawole and Jegede, with assistance from Dr. Ademola Adelekan. A total of 21staff of ARFH attended this training held at ARFH office, Ikolaba, Ibadan (Photo credit: Solagbade Ab-wealth Abimbola).

Quantitative Data Analysis

On November 30, 2020 TREPP Project Capacity Building Training on "Quantitative Data Analysis" was organised for Staff of the Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria (IHVN), in the Ibadan office. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Abimbola Solagbade, Miss Oyinloluwa Adedeji and Miss Ngozi Ngozichukwu after an overview of the project which was presented by the CEO of Blue Gate who is also one of the project coordinators.

Research Proposal Writing

On November 10, 2020 members of Prime Health Response Initiative were trained on "Research Proposal Writing". This training was held in their office at Old Bodija, Ibadan