By Ngozi Nwankwo
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arch. Sonny Echono, has urged Nigerian scientists to identify the fastest pathway towards developing the country’s first Lassa fever vaccine.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday during the official presentation of outcomes from the TETFund-sponsored Mega Research Project on Lassa Fever by the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), Benue State, Echono described the recurring disease as a major public health burden demanding urgent solutions.
Reacting to findings presented by the research team, he stressed the need for Nigeria to move beyond research into practical interventions. “What is the shortest route towards developing a vaccine? How can we ensure that the burden on our people is reduced? Every year, thousands of Nigerians die from Lassa fever. How can we reduce this burden?” Echono asked.
He assured researchers that TETFund would collaborate with relevant institutions, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health, to translate findings into national health interventions. He added that the initiative could strengthen the case for establishing a vaccine development centre in Nigeria.
Earlier, Professor Francis Aba Uba, Vice-Chancellor of FUHSO, described the project as one of the most significant research investments in the institution’s history. He recalled that TETFund awarded the university a ₦250 million Mega Research Grant four years ago to investigate Lassa fever, which has since produced valuable evidence on the disease’s epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and control.
Professor Uba noted that the project has expanded research infrastructure, enhanced laboratory capacity, developed young investigators, and fostered national and international collaborations. He appealed for FUHSO to be designated as a National Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research.
Presenting the findings, Professor Joseph Okopi, Principal Investigator, disclosed that Nigeria remains the country with the highest burden of Lassa fever globally, recording between 5,000 and 10,000 deaths annually. He said the study was the largest multi-state population surveillance ever conducted on Lassa fever in Nigeria.
