Advancing public health leadership through culturally centered and responsive research mentorship training in Nigeria

Effective leadership in research and public health is critical to strengthen evidence generation and translation into policy and practice. Mentorship in research and public health is critical to develop leaders, but mentorship training is often ad hoc and may not be effective, particularly when it does not reflect local cultural and academic contextual realities. The Cardiovascular Research Training in Nigeria (CeRTIN) program, a funded partnership between the University of Abuja, Northwestern University, and Washington University in St. Louis is designed to increase cardiovascular research capacity and leadership of Nigerian investigators, including through mentorship training. This paper describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a culturally-centered research mentorship training program designed to strengthen mentorship knowledge, capacity, and skills among current and future research leaders. This hybrid workshop, co-developed by faculty in Nigeria and the US using adult learning principles, was conducted in April 2024 with early/midcareer academics, professionals, and mentorship leaders (N = 65). Forty four participants completed post-workshops surveys. Results demonstrate high degrees of agreement with the workshop's utility, relevancy to the cultural context, and a valuable investment of time. Participants were most engaged during group discussions and interactive sessions which mirrored real-world examples. Significant improvements were reported in self-reported confidence and knowledge in key areas of mentorship. The value and sustainability of culturally responsive approaches to research and public health leadership development through mentoring is critical to plan, execute, and sustain research to improve health in Nigeria and beyond.