, in collaboration with the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the Federal Government of Nigeria,){kind=link}
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the Federal Government of Nigeria, 19 Nigerian universities, and development partners, have launched the Behavioural Insights Research and Development Laboratory (BIRDLAB) Nigeria.
The launch, held at the College of Medicine, UNILAG, Akoka, Lagos State, marks a significant step in advancing social and behavioural research aimed at improving child survival and development outcomes across Nigeria.
Hosted by the University of Lagos, BIRDLAB Nigeria is a multidisciplinary platform designed to integrate behavioural science into policy and programme implementation.
It will serve as a hub for collaborative research among academics, government officials, development practitioners, and students to generate evidence-based solutions to national challenges.
UNICEF Nigeria Deputy Representative, Ms. Rownak Khan, described the initiative as a transformative move towards improving programme outcomes through behavioural insights.
“This is not just an event; it is an opportunity to transform our work for children,” Ms. Khan said. “BIRDLAB brings together experts from psychology, nutrition, communication and other disciplines to better understand the decisions made by children and their communities.”
Khan noted that the platform would empower stakeholders to ask critical questions, deepen understanding of human behaviour, and co-create solutions tailored to Nigeria’s developmental needs.
She also commended the support of the Federal Ministries of Health and Information, the Network for Behavioural Research on Child Survival, and UNILAG for their roles in establishing Nigeria’s first on-site BIRDLAB.
She further stated that UNICEF’s commitment to the lab extends to real-time programme implementation and capacity building, particularly for graduate students involved in the research process.
“Investing in children is investing in the nation’s future,” she added.
Multi-sectoral Collaboration
Delivering a welcome address on behalf of the UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola; the Former Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Professor Afolabi Lesi, underscored the significance of BIRDLAB’s multidisciplinary, African-centred approach.
“This is not just about viewing behavioural issues from a medical perspective. It involves sociologists, community physicians, government partners, and development stakeholders,” Prof. Lesi said.
He highlighted UNILAG’s robust research infrastructure, which includes over 23 research centres, seven institutes, and eight innovation hubs, six of which operate under the College of Medicine.
These facilities, he said, position the institution as an ideal host for BIRDLAB’s operations. Prof. Lesi also emphasised the need for BIRDLAB research findings to be effectively communicated to the public to drive behavioural change.
READ ALSO: UNICEF Commends Gombe State’s Fight Against Out-Of-School Crisis
Government Endorsement
Speaking on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Nnam Chinasa Ogbodo, lauded the initiative’s potential to inform evidence-based policymaking across critical sectors.
“It will help generate new insights to improve health, education, child protection, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, communication, and community practices,” he said.
Mr. Ogbodo noted that the platform reflects the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to building a future where children not only survive but thrive, alongside the well-being of their mothers.
He congratulated all stakeholders for their roles in the successful launch and reaffirmed government’s support for the lab’s activities.
The Objective
BIRDLAB Nigeria is expected to engage graduate students and researchers in real-time behavioural studies focusing on health, education, nutrition, and child development.
The initiative promotes co-creation with communities and aims to translate research into actionable policy and programmatic interventions at both local and national levels.
As BIRDLAB expands its reach, stakeholders say its focus on scientific rigour, relevance, and inclusivity will position it as a national centre of excellence in behavioural science and a model for Africa.
With strong institutional backing and a collaborative approach, BIRDLAB is poised to strengthen the integration of human-centred insights into governance and development programming across Nigeria.
Hauwa Abu