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” was 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” by 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 March 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 evidence-based 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.

Video has become a great way to disseminate as it conveys information quickly, clearly and in an entertaining way. Compared to traditional print media, a video can be easily updated and re-edited to target a different audience. Given the ubiquity of online technology academia are still not making greater use of it, instead of continuing to rely on writing papers as a means of publicising research. In other words, academia still lag so far behind the current audio-visual and digital revolution. If research film is streamed via online channels, it would allow rapid feedback on research findings. It would also reach a much wider audience, compared with the current handful of readers of academic journals. Delivering academic research via online video would also promote exchanges between researchers and the public. In turn, this would inform the way researchers approach their subject matter. This project therefore designed to use videography for research dissemination.

Objectives

The objectives of this project are to;

1. Invite health and/or health related principal investigator(s) of an ongoing or recently completed research for a videography interview.
2. Debate key research findings, and its implication for policy making and public health.
3. Disseminate the findings via social media.
4. Select research project for TREPP presentation.

Approach

This project will keep viewer interest by making videos entertaining where possible, and using a variety of styles, e.g. expert interviews, site visits/tours, documentary, biographical, profiles etc.

Methods of dissemination

The dissemination will be made using the emerging social media landscape – YouTube, Vimeo and other popular social media sharing websites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp as well as video sharing concepts such as TED Talks – where popular speakers share their ideas in a convenient, accessible and effective video format streamed online. The video will also be disseminated during TREPP presentations/programmes and via TV stations.

Category of Dissemination

Three different categories of dissemination plan is available namely Individual, Group and Assembly disseminations:

1. Individual Dissemination: Individual dissemination is a plan for a single project or principal investigator. This will be done every two weeks (Twice a month) at the principal investigator’s office or Blue Gate Initiative office.
2. Group Dissemination: Two or more researchers with the same research focus will be brought together for a group discussion in form of a debate to share their different findings and come up with a single conclusion and recommendation. This will be done quarterly (Every three months) at the Oyo State House of Assembly.
3. Plenary Dissemination: This is also a group dissemination/debate in a very big gathering with the presence of community members and/or stakeholders. This will involve participation of community members/stakeholders through question and answer session. This will be done twice a year (Every six months) at the Oyo State House of Assembly.

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