UNICEF Unveils Nigeria’s First Behavioural Research Lab at UNILAG

August 23, 2025

By Ayinde Adeleke

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has unveiled Nigeria’s first-ever behavioural research facility, the Behavioural Insights Research and Design Laboratory (BIRD-Lab Nigeria), at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Speaking at the launch, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed, described the initiative as a transformative step toward designing child-centred, evidence-based development solutions in the country. She noted that the lab would help policymakers and stakeholders “ask the right questions, gather meaningful insights, and design impactful interventions” tailored to the needs of children and communities.

The lab will serve as a multidisciplinary hub, bringing together experts in psychology, sociology, nutrition, and communication, while also providing UNILAG graduate students with hands-on opportunities to work on real-time programme challenges.

Partners including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and the Network of Behavioural Research for Child Survival in Nigeria (NETBRECSIN) commended the initiative. Bayo Onajole, speaking on behalf of NETBRECSIN, described the project as “an inclusive approach that fosters collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovative strategies to improve child development outcomes.”

The BIRD-Lab, modeled after a similar initiative in Ethiopia, is expected to contribute significantly to shaping more effective and sustainable social and developmental policies in Nigeria.