x

COVID-19: Nigeria set to debut first vaccine in 18 months as TETFund supports local production with N450m

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

Nigeria’s has began moves to kick start it’s initial COVID -19 vaccines in 18 months following support of N450 million donation by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Meanwhile Project Manager, Nigeria COVID-19 Research Coalition (NCRC), Prof. Poopola Mustapha, has hinted that at least $500 million is needed yearly for research and development in the health sector.

Mustapha disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at a colloquium organised by the coalition.
According to him, e proposition by the African Union (AU) has proposed that countries should set aside one per cent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a contribution for research and development (R&D).

He said, “Our National GDP is $500 billion and one per cent of this is $5 billion.”
Mustapha explained that before now, TETFund used to concentrate on funding for research and development only in the tertiary education sector, but for the first time, it brought together five institutions that are having real-time business in terms of the development of vaccines in the country, using the COVID-19 model.

He noted that institutions involved include the National Veterinary Research Institute (NDRI), Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto; the University of Jos and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), as “we are looking at the reagents component of what is needed so that it can be produced locally.”

Daybreak reports that the highest grant portfolio for research is around $20 million while the health sector requires at least $500 million yearly to have concrete research for qualitative development.

Coordinator of NCRC, Dr. Chinwe Ochu, advocated for domestic funding for the pandemic and other health research in the country, and disclosed that her organisation was set up to conduct COVID19 research, but lamented the absence of funding.

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalistAs...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

Neomercantilism: Trump’s New Tariff Regime And American Economic Uncertainties

By Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim,  AbujaMercantilism as the art and...

Seadogs donate sanitary pads to female students in A’Ibom 

By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo The National Association of Seadogs, (NAS), also...

N/Delta communities demand urgent action on methane emissions

By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo  Representatives of communities affected by oil...

Plateau  commence  enforcement of regulations on vehicles transporting  spillable goods 

By Isreal Adamu, Jos Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency...

Plateau  South  APC group   Passes Vote of Confidence on Speaker Dewan 

By Israel AdamuA group operating under the umbrella body...

Igali Calls for Inclusion of Canoeing, Kokowa at the National Sports Festival

By Amgber KumoBayelsa State Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr....

N10bn Alleged Loot: EFCC Probes SGF Akume’s PA ,Torhile Uchi

Indications emerged that the personal Assistant to the Secretary...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img