By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The African Infectious Diseases Multidisciplinary Research and Grant (AFIDMURG) has trained over 150 infectious disease experts and researchers across Africa and beyond in a workshop targeted on systematic review reporting, reinforcing efforts to strengthen evidence-based research on the continent.
The one-day virtual training, held on Thursday, 7 May, 2026 convened participants from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
The workshop, organised by AFIDMURG, focused on equipping attendees with step-by-step skills in conducting systematic reviews to improve timely data reporting and integration of African research into global health databases.
Founded in 2020, AFIDMURG aims to connect African infectious disease experts and multidisciplinary researchers to address endemic and emerging health threats.
With infectious diseases ranging from malaria and HIV/AIDS to tuberculosis, influenza, and viral haemorrhagic illnesses such as Lassa fever, Mpox, and Ebola remaining a leading cause of death globally, the organisation stressed the urgency of adopting structured research tools.
Explaining the initiative, the Founder and Director, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adeyemi Anjorin, said capacity building in systematic review methodology is critical to strengthening Africa’s research output.
“The battle against infectious diseases requires experts to be well equipped; hence, the need for capacity building with the correct instruments like systematic review,” he said.
He added that AFIDMURG is focused on improving data collection and analysis across the continent.
“We want to collect and analyse infectious disease data emanating from Africa promptly,” he said, noting that the organisation also plans to expand training into grant development, disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness, and artificial intelligence applications.
In her keynote address, Muhabat Raji of Alfaisal University emphasised the relevance of systematic reviews in advancing evidence-based decision-making.
“Systematic review provides a structured and transparent approach to synthesising existing literature, thereby improving the reliability and credibility of research findings,” she said.
She further stressed the need for adherence to ethical standards and reporting guidelines, urging researchers to adopt collaborative approaches.
According to her, systematic reviews play a key role in identifying knowledge gaps and supporting policy formulation, clinical practice, and academic development.
Also speaking, Professor Ismail Ayoade Odetokun of the University of Ilorin delivered practical insights into the systematic review process, guiding participants through topic selection, research design, literature search, data extraction, and analysis.
He highlighted common challenges and advised researchers to maintain accuracy, objectivity, and methodological rigour.
The session was moderated by Emmanuel Oyinloye of Hanover Medical School, Germany, who coordinated discussions and ensured seamless engagement.
In his closing remarks, he reiterated the importance of systematic reviews in research and encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained.
Participants included infectious disease experts, academicians, laboratorians, policymakers, and postgraduate students from multiple continents, reflecting the organisation’s expanding global reach.
AFIDMURG continues to track disease outbreaks across Africa while contributing to Pan-African studies on COVID-19, vaccine surveillance, and Mpox, with publications in journals such as PLOS One, Tropical Medicine and International Health, Vaccines, PAMJ, COVID, and PNgAS.
