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Tag: malaria vaccine

  • Ned Nwoko renews call for locally made malaria vaccine, national eradication plan

    Ned Nwoko renews call for locally made malaria vaccine, national eradication plan

    Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has reiterated the need for a locally produced malaria vaccine and a structured national approach to eradicating the deadly disease.

    Speaking at a Malaria Vaccine Workshop organized by the Prince Ned Nwoko Foundation, he stressed the importance of Nigeria developing its own vaccine production capabilities rather than depending on foreign solutions.

    The workshop, themed “Building & Strengthening Sustainable Malaria Vaccine Manufacturing Ecosystem in Nigeria,” brought together experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss sustainable vaccine production strategies.

    In a statement by his media consultant, Michael Ogah, Nwoko reaffirmed that the initiative aligns with his long-standing commitment to malaria eradication in Nigeria.

    “Senator Nwoko has personally invested over $20 million in malaria research and pharmaceutical manufacturing across Africa”, the statement added. 

    The senator who stressed that individual efforts alone cannot achieve the goal of eliminating the disease, called for government action, private sector investment, and global partnerships.

    “To institutionalize the fight against malaria, Senator Nwoko has introduced the Malaria Eradication Agency Bill (SB.172) in the Senate. The proposed agency will coordinate malaria research, vaccine production, and large-scale eradication programmes in Nigeria”.

    “To strengthen the strategic move for the actualization of the proposed bill, a public hearing on the bill is expected by June, and the senator has urged all stakeholders including government agencies, health organizations, and research institutions to support the passage of the bill”, the statement declared.

    “Malaria is not an unsolvable problem, if this were a Western disease, the global response would have been swift. The COVID-19 pandemic proved that when there is urgency, vaccines can be developed and deployed within months. We must take responsibility for solving our own health crises”, the statement stated.

    Read Also: Ned Nwoko celebrates Regina Daniels achievement amid rumored marital saga

    Malaria remained one of Africa’s deadliest diseases, particularly affecting children and pregnant women. Health experts believe that establishing a local vaccine production system will be a game-changer in Nigeria’s fight against the disease.

    “The senator’s initiative has been widely praised, with stakeholders urging the government to provide the necessary funding and policy backing. 

    “As the Malaria Eradication Agency Bill moves forward in the Senate, all eyes are now on lawmakers and decision-makers to take concrete steps toward ending malaria in Nigeria”, tha statement read.

  • Malaria vaccine for launch today in Bayelsa, Kebbi

    Malaria vaccine for launch today in Bayelsa, Kebbi

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, has said the Federal Government will today roll out a malaria vaccine initiative to combat the disease in states with its high prevalence.

    The minister restated the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), an emerging global health threat.

    Pate said this in a video media briefing uploaded on the ministry’s X (formerly Twitter).

    The minister emphasised the pressing need for the intervention, considering that Nigeria accounts for 27 per cent of global malaria cases and 31 per cent of malaria-related deaths.

    He said: “This week marks another important step forward for our country as Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, begins to roll out the malaria vaccines, starting with all local governments in Bayelsa and Kebbi states. Our determination to end malaria is not predicated on the mobilisation of this important vaccine alone.

    “We are aligning all levels of government to adopt preventative measures to safeguard lives and ensure treatment is available for those who need it.”  Pate highlighted key initiatives aimed at tackling malaria, including collaboration with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the establishment of the Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN).

    “Earlier this year, we identified strategic actions to combat malaria and accelerate its elimination, including the development of a costed plan that explicitly details trade-offs,” he said. 

    Read Also: 23 surprising facts about Tinubu’s Tax Reform that could change everything

    The minister explained that the reforms are meant to improve malaria case management and ensure the affordability and availability of treatments through partnerships with global initiatives, like the Affordable Medicines for Malaria venture.

    “In addition, we are retraining Nigeria’s frontline health workforce to enhance testing, treatment, and community awareness,” he said. 

    Pate lauded the support of development partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Global Fund, and the Gavi Alliance.

    The minister recalled that AMEN recently held its inaugural meeting in Abuja, chaired by Emeritus Professor Rosa Leki. 

    He described AMR as a significant threat to global health security, adding: “AMR occurs when microorganisms evolve and become resistant to antimicrobial medicines, posing a serious challenge to life-saving treatments.” 

    To overcome the threat, Pate said Nigeria launched its second National Action Plan on AMR and a National Genomic Surveillance Strategy.

    “These initiatives aim to strengthen the country’s healthcare resilience and position Nigeria as a leader in health security in Africa and globally. 

    “The second National Plan on AMR and the National Genomic Surveillance Strategy are pivotal to the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment initiative.

    “By addressing both current and future threats, these strategies ensure better health outcomes and security for Nigerians.

    “The integration of genomic surveillance with AMR efforts will enhance Nigeria’s ability to detect and respond to emerging health threats. “This synergy positions Nigeria as a key player in the global fight against AMR while improving public health security,” he said. 

    The minister underscored the global urgency of AMR, saying it contributed to 4.7 million deaths worldwide in 2021.

    He added: “Our approach integrates human, animal, and environmental health, using a One Health framework.

    “Genomic technologies will revolutionise how we detect, monitor, and respond to infectious diseases.” 

    Pate hailed Prof. Christian Happi of Redeemer’s University, whose work in genomic research has gained global acclaim. 

    In a testament to Nigeria’s progress, the minister also announced that the country had been selected to host the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial meeting on AMR in 2026.

    “Nigeria will welcome member-states as the host nation of this biannual meeting, taking a global leadership role in advancing the One Health approach to AMR prevention and research.

    “The real work now begins. With the commitment of all stakeholders, I am confident that under the bold leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we will make significant strides in building a healthier, safer Nigeria that plays its part in African and global health security,” he said.

  • FG rolls out malaria vaccine in Bayelsa, Kebbi 

    FG rolls out malaria vaccine in Bayelsa, Kebbi 

    …takes global leadership of Malaria fight 

    Nigeria has taken a major step in combating its dual public health challenges with the rollout of the malaria vaccine today in Bayelsa and Kebbi States, targeting areas with the highest malaria prevalence.  

    In addition, the country has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), an emerging global health threat. 

    Nigeria’s efforts have also gained international recognition, as it will host the 5th Global Ministerial Meeting on AMR in 2026, succeeding Saudi Arabia.  

    The malaria vaccine initiative was unveiled during an online briefing by Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, who emphasized the pressing need for the intervention considering that Nigeria accounts for 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of malaria-related deaths.

    He said: “This week marks another important step forward for our country as Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, begins to roll out the malaria vaccines starting with all local governments in Bayelsa and Kebbi states. Our determination to end malaria is not predicated on the mobilization of this important vaccine alone. 

    “We are aligning all levels of government to adopt preventative measures to safeguard lives and ensure treatment is available for those who need it.”  

    The Minister highlighted key initiatives aimed at tackling malaria, including collaboration with the Nigerian Governors Forum and the establishment of the Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN).

    “Earlier this year, we identified strategic actions to combat malaria and accelerate its elimination, including the development of a costed plan that explicitly details trade-offs,” Pate said.  

    Read Also: French investors to revive over 2000 abandoned mining pits in Nigeria – Alake

    He also noted reforms to improve malaria case management and ensure the affordability and availability of treatments through partnerships with global initiatives like the Affordable Medicines for Malaria venture. 

    “In addition, we are retraining Nigeria’s frontline health workforce to enhance testing, treatment, and community awareness,” he said.  

    Pate praised the support of development partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Fund, and the Gavi Alliance. He revealed that AMEN had recently held its inaugural meeting in Abuja, chaired by Emeritus Professor Rosa Leki.  

    Addressing AMR, Pate described it as a significant threat to global health security, saying, “AMR occurs when microorganisms evolve and become resistant to antimicrobial medicines, posing a serious challenge to life-saving treatments”.  

    To counter this, he said Nigeria launched its Second National Action Plan on AMR and a National Genomic Surveillance Strategy.

    “These initiatives aim to strengthen the country’s healthcare resilience and position Nigeria as a leader in health security in Africa and globally.  

    “The second national plan on AMR and the National Genomic Surveillance Strategy are pivotal to the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. 

    “By addressing both current and future threats, these strategies ensure better health outcomes and security for Nigerians.

    “The integration of genomic surveillance with AMR efforts will enhance Nigeria’s ability to detect and respond to emerging health threats. “This synergy positions Nigeria as a key player in the global fight against AMR while improving public health security,” he said.  

    The Minister underscored the global urgency of AMR, which contributed to 4.7 million deaths worldwide in 2021, noting that “Our approach integrates human, animal, and environmental health using a One Health framework.

    “Genomic technologies will revolutionize how we detect, monitor, and respond to infectious diseases.”  

    Pate commended the contributions of Professor Christian Happi of Redeemer’s University, whose work in genomic research has gained global acclaim.  

    In a testament to Nigeria’s progress, he also announced that the country had been selected to host the 5th Global High-Level Ministerial Meeting on AMR in 2026. 

    “Nigeria will welcome member states as the host nation of this biannual meeting, taking a global leadership role in advancing the One Health approach to AMR prevention and research.

    “The real work now begins. With the commitment of all stakeholders, I am confident that under the bold leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we will make significant strides in building a healthier, safer Nigeria that plays its part in African and global health security,” he said.

  • Fed Govt gets 846,000 doses of malaria vaccine

    Fed Govt gets 846,000 doses of malaria vaccine

    Nigeria has received 846,000 doses of the RTS, S/AS01 (Mosquirix) vaccine from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to combat malaria.

    This vaccine, proven to reduce malaria cases and mortality among young children in large clinical trials across Africa, makes Nigeria the third country to adopt it, following Ghana and Kenya, which started using it in 2023.

    The vaccine rollout is set to begin next month in two high-prevalence states, Kebbi and Bayelsa, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina, said yesterday.

    Malaria, which is transmitted year-round in southern Nigeria and lasts up to three months in the northern regions, remains a major public health concern, affecting about 97 percent of the population.

    During the handover of the RTS, S/AS01 vaccines in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, emphasized the pivotal role the vaccine will play in reducing malaria cases and deaths.

    He noted that the arrival of the vaccine marks a historic milestone in Nigeria’s fight against malaria and will significantly enhance the country’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the disease, revealing that the rollout would begin in high-burden regions before expanding nationwide.

    The Minister said: “Our target is to prioritize regions most affected by malaria, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited.

    “With proper infrastructure, political will, and continued international collaboration, Nigeria is poised to make substantial progress in reducing the disease’s toll and moving toward malaria elimination”.

    Asserting that global health partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, are providing both technical and financial support to ensure the successful rollout of the malaria vaccine, Pate said, “USAID and other partners are pushing for rapid scale-up beyond the initial two States.

    Read Also: Nigeria receives 846,000 doses of malaria vaccine

    “The aim issue for a nationwide rollout to cover all regions of the country,” Pate added.

    Aina, also underscored the importance of the vaccine, noting that Nigeria is among the top 10 contributors to the global burden of malaria, accounting for approximately 27 percent of the global burden and 31 percent of malaria deaths worldwide.

    “In 2022, nearly 200,000 deaths from malaria occurred in Nigeria. Children under five years of age, and pregnant women are the most affected, with a national malaria prevalence rate of 22% in children aged 6-59 months as of 2021.

    “The vaccine would quicken our malaria control and elimination efforts, as we expect about a 13% reduction in all-cause mortality in children under five and a 22% reduction in hospitalized severe malaria cases.

    He however assured that the agency would not compromise deployment of the vaccine for whatever reason, saying, “The WHO recommends prioritization of the vaccine in areas of high to moderate transmission and this is guiding our phased introduction strategy.

    “Consequently, we are commencing the first phase of the introduction in November, in two States – Kebbi and Bayelsa, with high prevalence of malaria.

    “Kebbi because it has the highest prevalence rate in the country (52%); while Bayelsa is selected because its target population of 69,935, and that of Kebbi’s 162,014, aligns with the one million doses available for this phase, thereby ensuring that the vaccine supply is effectively utilized.

    “The vaccine will be administered to children aged 5 months to 15 months as part of Routine Immunization.

    “Each child requires four doses, given at 5, 6, 7, and 15 months of age, to be fully protected”.

    Expressing optimism about the vaccine’s life-saving potential, WHO’s representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, voiced confidence that the vaccine, when combined with other preventive measures, will significantly reduce the malaria burden in Nigeria and bring the country closer to the goal of a malaria-free Africa.

  • Gavi donates 846,000 Malaria vaccine to Nigeria

    Gavi donates 846,000 Malaria vaccine to Nigeria

    Nigeria has received 846,000 doses of the RTS, S/AS01 (Mosquirix) vaccine from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to combat malaria.

    This vaccine, proven to reduce malaria cases and mortality among young children in large clinical trials across Africa, makes Nigeria the third country to adopt it, following Ghana and Kenya, which started using it in 2023.

    The vaccine rollout is set to begin in November in two high-prevalence States, Kebbi and Bayelsa, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina, said on Thursday.

    Malaria, which is transmitted year-round in southern Nigeria and lasts up to three months in the northern regions, remains a major public health concern, affecting about 97 percent of the population.

    During the handover of the RTS, S/AS01 vaccines in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, emphasized the pivotal role the vaccine will play in reducing malaria cases and deaths.

    He noted that the arrival of the vaccine marks a historic milestone in Nigeria’s fight against malaria and will significantly enhance the country’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the disease, revealing that the rollout would begin in high-burden regions before expanding nationwide.

    The minister said: “Our target is to prioritize regions most affected by malaria, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited.

    “With proper infrastructure, political will, and continued international collaboration, Nigeria is poised to make substantial progress in reducing the disease’s toll and moving toward malaria elimination”.

    Asserting that global health partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, are providing both technical and financial support to ensure the successful rollout of the malaria vaccine, Pate said, “USAID and other partners are pushing for rapid scale-up beyond the initial two States.

    “The aim issue for a nationwide rollout to cover all regions of the country,” Pate added.

    On his part, the Executive Director (ED) of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina, also underscored the importance of the vaccine, noting that Nigeria is among the top 10 contributors to the global burden of malaria, accounting for approximately 27 percent of the global burden and 31 percent of malaria deaths worldwide.

    “In 2022, nearly 200,000 deaths from malaria occurred in Nigeria. Children under five years of age, and pregnant women are the most affected, with a national malaria prevalence rate of 22% in children aged 6-59 months as of 2021.

    “The vaccine would quicken our malaria control and elimination efforts, as we expect about a 13% reduction in all-cause mortality in children under five and a 22% reduction in hospitalized severe malaria cases.

    Read Also: Overcoming hurdles toward malaria vaccine deployment

    He however assured that the agency would not compromise deployment of the vaccine for whatever reason, saying, “The WHO recommends prioritization of the vaccine in areas of high to moderate transmission and this is guiding our phased introduction strategy.

    “Consequently, we are commencing the first phase of the introduction in November, in two States – Kebbi and Bayelsa, with high prevalence of malaria.

    “Kebbi because it has the highest prevalence rate in the country (52%); while Bayelsa is selected because its target population of 69,935, and that of Kebbi’s 162,014, aligns with the one million doses available for this phase, thereby ensuring that the vaccine supply is effectively utilized.

    “The vaccine will be administered to children aged 5 months to 15 months as part of Routine Immunization.

    “Each child requires four doses, given at 5, 6, 7, and 15 months of age, to be fully protected”.

    Expressing optimism about the vaccine’s life-saving potential, WHO’s representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, voiced confidence that the vaccine, when combined with other preventive measures, will significantly reduce the malaria burden in Nigeria and bring the country closer to the goal of a malaria-free Africa.

  • Nigeria receives 846,000 doses of malaria vaccine

    Nigeria receives 846,000 doses of malaria vaccine

     Nigeria has received 846,000 doses of a ground breaking malaria vaccine from development partners to reduce the country’s high incidence of the disease, especially among children and other vulnerable groups.

    Prof. Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, announced during the event on Thursday in Abuja that the vaccines were expected to play a pivotal role in lowering malaria-related deaths.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that large clinical trials in Africa proved vaccine, RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) as effective in reducing contracting malaria cases and mortality among young children.

    Nigeria is the third African country to introduce the vaccine, following Ghana and Kenya, which began using it in 2023.

    Malaria affects 97 per cent of Nigeria’s population. Its transmission occurs year-round in southern regions and lasts up to three months in the northern regions.

    The primary malaria vectors are Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles gambiae, with Anopheles funestus playing a secondary role in some areas.

    The vaccines comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to reduce malaria-related deaths under the National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) 2021–2025.

    Pate said the vaccine would significantly boost the country’s ongoing malaria elimination efforts.

    “Our target is to prioritize regions most affected by malaria, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited,” he said.

    He also said the vaccine rollout would begin in high-burden regions before expanding nationwide.

    According to him, global health partners, including WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi, are providing technical and financial support to ensure the successful implementation of the vaccine.

    Read Also: Millions of Nigerians are at risk as the government ignores other diseases

    “USAID and other partners are pushing for rapid scale-up beyond the initial two states, aiming for a nationwide rollout to cover all regions of the country”, he said.

    He said that the arrival of the malaria vaccine marked a historic step in the fight against malaria.

    “With proper infrastructure, political will, and continued international collaboration, Nigeria is poised to make substantial progress in reducing the disease’s toll and moving toward malaria elimination,” he said.

    Dr Muyi Aino, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency announced that the initial rollout would target Bayelsa and Kebbi, chosen due to their high malaria burden and logistical challenges.

    “In Bayelsa, which has significant riverine areas, reaching remote communities has been a challenge for health interventions.

    “But, the strengthened healthcare systems and enhanced cold chain capabilities are expected to ensure the vaccine reaches even the most isolated populations,” he said.

    Dr Eduardo Celades, UNICEF Chief of Health in Nigeria, said recent upgrades to the national cold store in Abuja have tripled its storage capacity, while the overall cold chain infrastructure across the country has doubled in the past year.

    “This capacity-building effort ensures that vaccines remain potent and are safely distributed to health facilities nationwide,” Celades said.

    He added that the malaria vaccine is a significant addition to Nigeria’s toolbox for combating malaria, alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) and other preventative measures.

    The WHO representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Mulombo, expressed optimism about the vaccine’s potential to save lives.

    “We are confident that this vaccine, in combination with other preventive measures, will drastically reduce the burden of malaria in Nigeria and help us move closer to achieving the goal of a malaria-free Africa”, he said.

    Prof. Gbenga Mokuolu, National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), hailed the vaccine as a game-changer.

    He, however, cautioned that it must be paired with continued investment in healthcare infrastructure and education.

    “The vaccine is not a magic bullet. Sustained efforts, including awareness campaigns and improved healthcare delivery, will be key to ensuring that benefits of the vaccine reach every corner of the country,” Mokuolu said.

    (NAN) 

  • Cameroon to introduce malaria vaccine Jan.22

    Cameroon to introduce malaria vaccine Jan.22

    Cameroon Minister of Public Health, Manaouda Malachieon, says Cameroon will introduce malaria vaccine in Jan. 22.

     The minister, in a statement yesterday said the move was part of concerted efforts to enhance the fight against malaria and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with the disease.

     “The selected vaccine, Mosquirix RTS, has been chosen by the country based on its pre-qualification, ensuring guaranteed quality, efficacy, and safety for its inclusion in the vaccination programmes.

    Read Also: Nigeria missing from new list of malaria vaccine beneficiaries

     “The vaccine will be offered in both public and private health facilities across 42 health districts. The vaccines provided for children are safe, free, and effective.” 

    Cameroon took delivery of 331,200 doses of malaria vaccine in November 2023, the first consignment to arrive in the Central African country.

     Malaria is responsible for 70 percent of deaths among children in Cameroon, according to the Ministry of Public Health.  

  • WHO unveils new malaria vaccine to be piloted in three African countries

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday unveiled a new malaria vaccine called RTS,S that will be piloted in Kenya, Ghana and Malawi next year to gauge its efficacy and safety.

    The WHO Regional Director for Africa,  Matshidiso Moeti, said the launch of the malaria vaccine, developed after years of painstaking research, marked a critical milestone in the fight against the tropical disease.

    The director added that “the prospect of a malaria vaccine is great news. Information gathered in the pilot programme will help us make decisions on the wider use of this vaccine.

    “Combined with existing malaria interventions, such a vaccine would have the potential to save tens of thousands of lives in Africa.”

    Moeti explained that developed through a public-private partnership, RTS,S malaria vaccine was recommended by a scientific panel appointed by the WHO to gauge its efficacy.

    The selection of Kenya, Ghana and Malawi to participate in the malaria vaccine pilot programme was based on their well-laid structures to fight the disease alongside high prevalence levels.

    The WHO director noted that RTS,S vaccine would complement existing interventions like drugs, indoor spraying and treated nets to vanquish the malaria-causing parasite that transmitted by mosquitoes.

    “We require new diagnostics, more effective anti-malarial drugs and new chemical formulations to prevent insecticide resistance to win the war against malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Moeti said.

    She said the UN Health agency had mobilised funds to support implementation of the initial phase of the malaria vaccine pilot programme that covers 2017-2020.

    She said “the vaccine would be assessed as a complementary intervention in Africa that could be added to our existing toolbox of proven preventive, diagnostic and treatment measures.”

    She added that the Sub-Saharan African region prevented an estimated 6.8 million malaria deaths between 2001 and 2015, thanks to political goodwill and robust financing toward prevention and treatment tools.

    WHO statistics show that in 2015, 13 out of 15 countries accounting for 80 per cent of global malaria burden were in Africa.

    The Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, Pedro Alonso, urged African governments to scale up investments in proven interventions like insecticide treated nets, indoor spraying and medicines to reduce malaria infections and deaths.

    “We have highly efficacious prevention and treatment options that should be scaled up to eliminate malaria in high endemic African countries,” said Alonso.

    He said the initial pilot programme of the RTS,S malaria vaccine would target 700,000 African children.

    Kenya’s cabinet Secretary for Health, Cleopa Mailu, hailed the launch of the malaria vaccine, saying it would accelerate progress toward eliminating the disease.

  • UNILAG’s best PhD scholar pursues malaria vaccine

    UNILAG’s best PhD scholar pursues malaria vaccine

    MR Muyiwa Oyebola, who graduated with the best PhD thesis from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) last Thursday, hopes to develop a vaccine against malaria parasite from his doctoral research.

    The 28-year old, whose PhD was in Biochemistry, Parasitology and Bioinformatics, said he has secured funds for his post doctoral fellowship in the United States of America (USA) to further validate the findings of his research.

    Oyebola said: “I focused on genomics of the malaria parasite. That is the genetic make-up of malaria, in order to design an effective vaccine. I identified some antidotes that can be further validated for vaccine development against malaria. I intend to do my post doctoral research in the U.S. I got sponsorship from the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), UNILAG and other collaborators during my doctoral research. Now, I have acquired a post doctoral fellowship to validate my findings. The fellowship will be in Uganda and the U.S. Collection of samples would be from Nigeria and Uganda, and then I would take them to the U.S. National Institute of health, which is also a collaborator in this.”

    Oyebola hopes to share the knowledge he gained doing his PhD thesis titled: “Genome-wide analysis and diversity of plasmodium falciparum in Lagos and Ekiti States, Southwest, Nigeria,” to others, while holding on to his passion for research.

    Oyebola, who hails from Ekiti West local government area of Ekiti State, bagged his Bachelor’s degree in Zoology at University of Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University) in 2008 and emerged best in his faculty during his masters in Biochemistry, Parasitology and Bioinformatics at UNILAG in 2011.

  • Our Girls; Hurray: Malaria vaccine & No polio; INEC Voter Register as Police ID Database ?

    Our Girls are still missing since April 15th 2014. The President is talking ‘dialogue’ with Boko Haram using perhaps the Sultan, the Emir of Kano and Conflict Resolution experts like Professor Albert. It must be difficult for the President, or Nigerians to contemplate negotiation with malignant evil. Who dare sit with people who may personally have sent suicide bomber children or who may blow the negotiation table up at the opening ceremony or a celebrated ‘Peace at last Federal –Boko Haram Agreement?

    July 2015 is ‘Wow’! Our Maternal Mortality Rate is 600+/100,000. Shame on African media for neglecting the ignorant citizen’s need for ‘LIFE SKILL’ knowledge and not doing more non-commercial 15 -30sec adverts for medical and social ignorance elimination! Shame on African governments for tiny health budgets! A million ‘hurrays’ for Nigeria’s  ‘ONE YEAR WITHOUT POLIO’ thanks to Rotary International, WHO, UNICEF and local partners and the vicious murder of polio vaccine health workers. Five million ‘hurrays’ for the new GSK MALARIA VACCINE to end malaria in childhood with funds from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others WHILE AFRICA’S LEADERS STOLE 50% OF THE BUDGET and under-budgeted health. Africa countries, except South Africa, offered about zero ‘Medical Research Grants’ in Nigeria’s and Africa’s Budgets.

    Over the last 30 years, Nigeria has made several very expensive, multibillion naira, and corruption riddled, attempts at getting Nigerians onto database.  I personally have been forced into five or six databases. Any more? The Nigeria Police Service or Force has no access to or has not asked for or has no interest in using any or all existing databases as a template for a NIGERIA NATIONAL FINGER AND FACE PRINT DATABASE IN 2015. Yet it is over 120 years after fingerprints were identified as an essential tool for crime investigations and made famous by fictional characters such as the literary private detective invented by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle –‘Sheer Luck’ Holmes, I mean Sherlock Holmes. Since 1892 when the first case was prosecuted, our Nigerian Police ignore and disregard obvious fingerprints and foot prints at ‘the scene of crime’. The Nigeria Police does not even set up a standard Crime Scene Protocol cordon and photography as seen in every international crime film. Nigerians, from watching CIS, NCIS etcetera, know what a normal Crime Laboratory or Forensic Lab looks like in sophisticated scientific content, delivery of spectacular clues and interpretation by genius police laboratory technicians. These are neglected jobs for hundreds of graduates. No matter how far-fetched, the cases depicted in these films ‘based on real life criminality’ appear to be, the science is real and operational in other countries. Why are victims of crime denied such rights to scientific investigation in Nigeria? Finger prints and face prints, photographs, are not nuclear physics. They are the simple applications of basic science and the use of widely available cameras, even phone cameras and are the right of victims and their families to justice.

    The largest database of adult Nigerians is not in the Passport Offices or FRSC Drivers Licence Records or BVN or State ID or National ID or the cell phone database or whatever other ID that has been cooked up in order to perpetrate the fraudulent extraction of funds. The largest, most expensive, recent and probably the most authentic database is the INEC database. This can be upgraded and modified by compulsory reporting of deaths and routine crosschecking. Even double registration does not matter.

    The Presidency and/or the ‘changed’ National Assembly (NASS), if it changes, must initiate ‘ID DATABASE LAWS’ authorising and mandating the Police, EFCC and ICPC full access to state, Federal Finger/Face ID databases on routine request and corporate employees databases on a judge’s warrant authorisation. Of course there is some access by police to the massive cell phone database already. The police must not continue the apparent collaboration with crime by sabotaging or underutilising this available database. Building immediately on this requires a ‘change’ instruction to all Police formations and Police stations that ALL SUSPECTS MUST BE IDed PROPERLY WITH FINGERPRINTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, FRONT VIEW AND SIDE VIEW-THE MUG SHOT- AND ANY MARKS OR TATTOOS NOTED. Even the ear is a print. With a simple laptop computer or a photo camera, available from any big cell phone company, this information can be recorded and forwarded by internet, email or even WhatsApp or Instagram to a new Nigerian language password cyber-secure state, REGIONAL AND FEDERAL POLICE ID DATABASE run by serial teams of NYSC wiz-kids and cross-referenced with the INEC database and others as needed.

    The facilities to bring the Nigeria Police into 2015 already exist. We only need to harvest, harness and direct them to reach Nigeria’s ‘change’ policing goals.

    We can create a Police database and add a FOOT SECTION as many African thieves operate barefoot. It only requires the will of the Police itself to grow and ‘change’. There are today high enough quality phone cameras in the possession of every DPO in every single police station. Let them initiate the needed ‘change’. The Federal Government can get a database designed by patriotic Nigerians in IT in a week. In the unlikely event that it is not satisfactory, ‘for security reasons’, Nigeria can mistakenly spend good scarce foreign exchange on free Open Source or expensive Microsoft and other ‘secure’ Police packages or use any internationally acceptable existing Police format for interchanges from UK’s CID, INTERPOL, America’s FBI, the New York’s ‘Finest’ or EUROPOL.

    ‘ We can create a Police database and add a FOOT SECTION as many African thieves operate barefoot. It only requires the will of the Police itself to grow and ‘change’. There are today high enough quality phone cameras in the possession of every DPO in every single police station. Let them initiate the needed ‘change’’