By Abel Leonard, Lafia
In Lafia, the usually quiet capital of Nasarawa State, something extraordinary is taking shape, and it has nothing to do with politics or sports. Behind the gates of the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia (FUTHLafia), laboratories are beginning to hum with a mission as urgent as it is ambitious: to develop home-grown vaccines that could shield Nigeria and Africa from deadly outbreaks.
For decades, Africa’s vaccine story has been written elsewhere — in Western research hubs and multinational pharmaceutical boardrooms. The continent, despite bearing a heavy burden of infectious diseases, has remained largely a consumer, not a producer, of life-saving vaccines. But here in Lafia, a team of scientists, clinicians, and epidemiologists is attempting to turn the page. They want to write a chapter where Africa not only participates but leads in vaccine innovation.
Dr. Ikrama Hassan, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, carries both the administrative authority and the moral conviction to drive the initiative forward. Sitting in his modest but bustling office, he speaks with the urgency of a man who knows the stakes.
Under his leadership, the idea for a vaccine research facility was conceived around 2019. But like many good intentions in Nigeria’s public health sector, the project faced years of bureaucratic delays and underfunding.
By the time the hospital’s transition from the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital to FUTH Lafia was formalised in 2024, the infrastructure for the centre and the equipment sat idle.
That changed in mid-2025, when the hospital convened a two-day Vaccine Research Retreat in Abuja, bringing together scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders to chart a roadmap for vaccine self-sufficiency.
Central to FUTH Lafia’s vaccine ambitions is collaboration. The hospital has entered into strategic partnerships with Innovative Biotech, Abuja, and is on the verge of partnering with the Centre for Advanced Medical Research and Training (CAMRET) at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
For him, the Vaccine Research Centre is more than a scientific project — it is a statement of sovereignty. It is about ensuring that African lives are not left at the mercy of distant supply chains that can be disrupted by politics, pandemics, or profit motives.
“When you work in a community that suffers the same outbreak every year, you cannot keep relying on imported solutions,” Dr. Hassan told reporters at the centre’s launch. “You have to develop the capacity to protect your people, and that means research, innovation, and local vaccine production.”
Despite decades of outbreaks, there is still no widely available Lassa fever vaccine. Several candidates are in development globally, but progress has been slow. FUTH Lafia’s researchers hope to accelerate that timeline by focusing their initial work on producing a locally tested, regionally tailored vaccine candidate.
Dr. Hassan explained: “The epidemiology of Lassa fever here is different from what you might find in Sierra Leone or Liberia. Local vaccine development means we can target the strains and conditions we see most often, making the product more effective for our population.”
The centre’s significance goes beyond one disease. Once operational at full capacity, it could serve as a rapid-response research hub for future outbreaks, whether they are driven by old foes like yellow fever or emerging threats like novel coronaviruses.
Recall that the hospital’s transformation into a teaching hospital was officially completed in 2025, creating fertile ground for such an ambitious undertaking. It has strengthened academic partnerships, attracted young researchers, and brought a new spirit of innovation into Lafia’s medical community.
One of the flagship outcomes of this academic leap is the introduction of a Master of Vaccinology programme, in collaboration with the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA), set to begin in the next academic session.
“This will produce a new generation of African vaccine scientists,” Dr. Hassan said. “It will also help us retain talent that might otherwise migrate in search of opportunities abroad.”
The partnerships are not just symbolic — they bring on board some of Nigeria’s most respected minds in vaccine science, notably Dr. Simon Agwale, CEO of Innovative Biotech and a globally recognised vaccinologist.
“Right now in Nigeria, we don’t have institutions that can generate the early-stage data needed for vaccine development,” Dr. Agwale said. “We must invest in infrastructure that allows us to do pre-clinical work, from animal testing to genomic analysis. Without this, we will always be dependent on others.”
His comments cut to the heart of the challenge. While the technical know-how exists in pockets, the absence of integrated research facilities has meant Nigerian scientists often have to partner with or outsource work to labs overseas. FUTH Lafia’s vaccine centre could be a game-changer in closing that gap.
He added that if there is one disease that justifies the urgency of the Lafia vaccine project, it is Lassa fever. He explained that, endemic in parts of Nigeria, the virus is transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated with the urine or faeces of infected rodents, and it causes thousands of infections annually.
“The disease is notorious for its high fatality rates among severe cases and for the risk it poses to healthcare workers.”
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the global inequities in vaccine distribution, with African nations often receiving doses months after wealthier countries. For Dr. Agwale, the lesson is clear: “Vaccine sovereignty is not a luxury for Africa; it’s a necessity. If you cannot produce your own vaccines, you cannot guarantee your population’s health security.”
In an interview, Prof Mustapha Imam, a Professor of Molecular Biology with UDUS/CAMRET Sokoto, explained that the Vaccine Research Centre at the Federal Teaching Hospital Lafia to Africa and the world is a step in the right direction, for infectious diseases know no borders.
He added that outbreaks like COVID-19, Ebola, Lassa fever, and yellow fever have shown how quickly a local health problem can become a global emergency. “Africa, and particularly Nigeria, faces a heavy burden from both endemic and emerging infectious diseases. Yet the continent often depends on vaccines developed elsewhere — vaccines that may arrive late, be in short supply, or fail to target the exact strains circulating locally.”
Imam added that establishing a Vaccine Research Centre at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, is a visionary step towards changing this narrative, not just for Nigeria, but for Africa and the wider world.
“This centre will be equipped with advanced technologies, such as mRNA platforms, recombinant DNA, viral vectors, and protein subunits, that allow scientists to design vaccines faster, more precisely, and in response to emerging threats. By focusing on diseases that disproportionately affect African populations, the Lafia centre will fill a long-standing gap in global health research. Its ability to collaborate with international partners means that innovations here can inform and benefit vaccine development worldwide, making it a key contributor to global health security.”
Beyond protecting health, Imam said the centre will strengthen scientific capacity in Africa. It will train a new generation of African scientists in cutting-edge vaccine technologies, creating opportunities for local innovation and reducing brain drain.
“This skilled workforce will not only address immediate public health challenges but also participate in the global research community, contributing African expertise and perspectives to the fight against pandemics. The economic benefits, through job creation, biotechnology growth, and potential vaccine exports, will extend well beyond Nigeria’s borders.”
Dr. Abdulmumini Lawal, an anatomist with interest in Molecular Biology at FULAFIA, in an interview echoed the same sentiment while noting that the establishment of the Vaccine Research Centre at the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital marks a transformative milestone in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.
“As the country and continent continue to battle infectious diseases — from malaria and Lassa fever to emerging threats like future pandemics — this centre will play a pivotal role in developing, testing, and deploying life-saving vaccines tailored to Africa’s unique needs. By reducing reliance on imported vaccines and fostering local expertise, Nigeria positions itself as a leader in biomedical innovation, ensuring faster, more equitable responses to health crises.”
Beyond national impact, Abdulmumini explained further that the centre holds immense value for Africa as a whole. With historically limited vaccine production capacity on the continent — despite bearing the highest burden of preventable diseases —
“This initiative aligns with the African Union’s goal for 60% vaccine self-sufficiency by 2040. Collaborative research with other African institutions will accelerate the fight against diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, and Ebola while strengthening regional health security. The centre’s work could also attract global partnerships, placing Lafia on the map as a hub for cutting-edge tropical disease research.”
On a global scale, Abdulmumini said the Lafia Vaccine Research Centre contributes to world health resilience, noting that infectious diseases know no borders, and solutions developed here — such as thermostable vaccines for hard-to-reach communities — could revolutionize delivery in low-resource settings worldwide.
“By integrating traditional knowledge with modern science, the centre may uncover breakthroughs missed by Western-led research. In an era of climate change and zoonotic spillovers, this Nigerian initiative isn’t just a national asset — it’s a beacon of hope for global health equity.”
Also in an interview with Dr. Mahmud Dalhat, an epidemiologist with the Kaduna Centres for Disease Control, who spoke on the importance of establishing the Centre in Nasarawa state Nigeria said the vaccination has remained the most important game changer in reducing morbidity and mortality from epidemic and endemic diseases.
It will has significantly improved life expectancy, child survival, and overall public health outcomes, as seen with the eradication of smallpox, the elimination of poliomyelitis and measles from most parts of the world, and the control of deadly diseases like cholera, cerebrospinal meningitis, tuberculosis, neonatal tetanus, hepatitis B virus, and even non-communicable diseases like cervical cancer through the prevention.
He added that the Vaccine Research Centre at the Federal University Teaching Hospital contributes towards achieving the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.8 — “access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all” (UN General Assembly, 2017).
“At the continental level, the two public health institutions with mandates for public health response in the African region (the WHO and the Africa CDC) have prioritised, among others, vaccine research and development.”
The Centre will help in addressing one of the key pillars of ensuring availability and accessibility to vaccines and biologicals in the country and, by extension, other African countries. It will boost the country’s capacity to prevent deadly infectious diseases (Lassa fever, cerebrospinal meningitis, HIV, COVID-19, Mpox, etc.),
Addressing vaccine hesitancy, Mahmud said it will reduce the economic burden of importing vaccines, improve the understanding of basic dynamics of priority diseases (measles, cholera, malaria), enable clinical trials, enhance regulatory capacity, and consequently, ensure global health security.
Furthermore, the Centre will provide secondary benefits including the training of professionals, the development of diagnostics for priority diseases, the provision of diagnostic services to Nasarawa and neighbouring states, and employment opportunities along the value chain that result from the earlier listed services. He added.
Professor Nasir Yusuf, a public health policy expert from Ahmadu Bello University, who was present at the retreat. “The Lafia centre is a step towards Nigeria owning its immunisation destiny,” he noted. “It’s not just about saving lives; it’s about national security, economic stability, and intellectual independence.”
Beyond its health benefits, he said the vaccine research centre has the potential to create new economic opportunities. Developing vaccines locally can reduce import costs, stimulate biotech startups, and attract funding from international health agencies eager to support African-led solutions.
“It also creates a platform for training the next generation of scientists. Already, FUTH Lafia is working on integrating research fellowships into its academic programmes, ensuring that medical students and young researchers gain hands-on experience in advanced laboratory techniques.”
For all its promise, the project is not without obstacles. Funding remains a persistent challenge, particularly for acquiring and maintaining sophisticated equipment. There are also concerns about brain drain, as highly trained researchers may be lured away by better-paying opportunities abroad.
Moreover, regulatory processes for vaccine approval in Nigeria can be lengthy, potentially delaying the deployment of locally developed products. Dr. Hassan is candid about these hurdles: “We cannot pretend there won’t be challenges. But every delay in starting is another year of vulnerability for our people. That is why we must begin, even if we grow in stages.”
While Nigeria has made strides in vaccine manufacturing with facilities like the Biovaccines Nigeria Limited plant in Ota, these efforts have largely focused on formulation and packaging, rather than end-to-end development. FUTH Lafia’s centre aims to cover the entire research pipeline, from identifying antigens to pre-clinical trials.
If successful, it could inspire similar initiatives across the continent. According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the goal is for African manufacturers to meet 60% of the continent’s vaccine needs by 2040 — up from less than 1% today.
Public perception will also play a key role in the centre’s success. Vaccine hesitancy, fuelled by misinformation, has undermined immunisation campaigns across Nigeria. FUTH Lafia plans to integrate public health education into its research agenda, using community outreach to explain the science and safety of vaccines.
As construction crews continue to put touches on laboratory installations and researchers prepare to begin early trials, optimism is high at FUTHLafia. For Dr. ikrama Hassan, the launch of the vaccine research centre is more than a professional milestone, it is the fulfilment of a personal mission.
“I was born and raised here. I have seen the pain that preventable diseases bring to our families. This is not just a hospital project; it is a promise to my community and my country,” he said.
In a world where global health crises can spread faster than ever before, Lafia’s quiet leap into vaccine research could well be one of the most important public health developments in Nigeria’s recent history. Whether it reaches its full potential will depend on political will, sustained investment, and the ability to keep its best minds working on home soil.
For now, the message from Nasarawa’s capital is clear: Nigeria is ready to take charge of its vaccine future, one breakthrough at a time.
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