The National Open University of Nigeria’s Research Week, held from 8th to 9th September 2026, brought together researchers, academics and members of the university community to reflect on the place of research in addressing real challenges. For the Neglected But Not Dejected Initiative (NBNDI), the occasion carried a special meaning. One of our Board Members was honoured as the NOUN Abuja Best Researcher for 2025.
This recognition is more than a title. It reflects the discipline behind years of asking questions, gathering evidence, examining problems and contributing knowledge through research. Recall, the founder of Not Dejected Initiative was the winner of NOUN Best Researcher, 2025.
Research often happens away from public attention. It involves long hours with data, literature, field observations, lab experiment, analysis and writing. The finished paper might take only a few minutes to read, but the work behind it often takes months or years. For us at NBNDI, this achievement also reinforces something we value deeply. The challenges affecting people and communities deserve to be understood before solutions are proposed. Good research helps us move beyond assumptions and gives us stronger grounds for action.
We are therefore proud to celebrate this recognition with our Board Member. It is a reflection of personal commitment to scholarship and a reminder of the important role researchers play in society. As an organisation working with communities facing displacement, hardship and other forms of vulnerability, we value knowledge that contributes to better decisions and more responsive interventions. We celebrate this achievement and look forward to seeing more research translated into work that improves lives.
Congratulations to our Board Member, Dr. Oluwafemi Idowu, on this well deserved recognition as NOUN Abuja Best Researcher for 2025. From all of us at Neglected But Not Dejected Initiative, we are proud to celebrate this milestone with you.
