Nigeria, Africa risk missing genomic medicine revolution over poor research funding – Experts

 Invest in home-grown vaccines, affordable genetic treatments -- Butali

Only 2% of genetic studies focus on Africans -- Paemka

Establish genomic research centres for Academy -- Ashiru

L-R: Professor Mayowa Owolabi, Academy Secretary, Academy of Medical Sciences; Professor Oladapo,  Ashiru, Foundation President, Academy of Medical Sciences; Emeritus Professor Frank Osato Giwa-Osagie, Outgoing President,  Academy of Medical Sciences; Professor Sunday Chinenye, Guest Speaker, Augustine Ohwovoriole Annual Memorial Lecture; Olor'ogun Dr Sonny Kuku, BoT Chairman, Academy of Medical Sciences; Professor Joseph Ahaneku,, Incoming President, Academy of Medical Sciences, at the Academy's Annual Scientific Conference/Annual Augustine Ohwovoriole Annual Memorial Lecture held in Lagos on Friday, 30th of October, 2026.

By Admin

Nigeria and other African countries risk being left behind in the emerging revolution in genomic medicine unless governments urgently invest in biomedical research, strengthen local research infrastructure and empower scientists to develop solutions to diseases affecting their populations.

Researchers who raised concerns over this development said the continent's limited investment in genetic and genomic research was restricting its ability to understand disease patterns, develop affordable treatments and benefit from advances in precision medicine.

Speaking at the Academy of Medical Sciences' 2026 Annual Scientific Conference, themed “The Genetics and Genomics of Non-Communicable Diseases: Integrating Science into Clinical Care”, the experts warned that Africa's continued dependence on scientific discoveries made largely outside the continent could perpetuate inequalities in healthcare.

They said this could leave millions of Africans unable to access sophisticated treatments developed without sufficient consideration for their genetic diversity, disease burden and economic circumstances.

Invest in home-grown vaccines, affordable genetic treatments – Butali

Nigerian geneticist, Professor Azeez Butali, said sustained government investment in biomedical research could deliver enormous public health and economic benefits.

Butali, a Gilbert Lilly Endowed Professor of Diagnostic Sciences at the College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, United States, warned that Nigeria's continued dependence on conventional outbreak containment measures, without corresponding investment in vaccine research and development, could leave the country exposed to future infectious disease emergencies.

He made particular reference to the renewed Ebola threat, arguing that Nigeria must move beyond surveillance and border screening to invest in developing vaccines and treatments against emerging infectious diseases.

"We need to move beyond that. We must invest in biomedical research, develop vaccines where possible and prepare our populations to respond to future outbreaks. Ebola will not be the last infectious disease threat, just as COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic. Another pandemic will emerge at some point," he said.

Calling for greater public participation in research, Butali said Nigerians must recognise their role in identifying research priorities and participating in studies that could produce solutions to pressing health challenges.

"My message to Nigerians is very simple: let us become part of the research process. To my colleagues, I believe we must keep our research tools ready and continue doing the work required to discover, translate scientific findings and improve the lives of our people.

"We should not wait for government funding before pursuing knowledge and scientific discoveries. Funding processes can take time, so we must continue to seek knowledge, build collaborations with colleagues around the world and move our research forward. Ultimately, our people will be the beneficiaries," he said.

He challenged the government to provide sustained funding for biomedical research, stressing that scientific discoveries could lead to molecules that eventually become vaccines and medicines capable of preventing diseases or reducing their impact.

Only 2% of genetic studies focus on Africans – Paemka

Butali's call for greater investment in genomic research resonated with concerns raised by Professor Lily Paemka, Associate Professor of Human Genetics and Genomics at the University of Ghana and Deputy Director of the West African Genetic Medicine Centre.

Paemka warned that African populations remained grossly underrepresented in global genetic studies, limiting scientists' ability to identify disease-associated genes and develop interventions suited to the continent.

She argued that including African genomes in genetic studies should go beyond meeting diversity and inclusion targets, stressing that Africa's exceptional genetic diversity offered scientists an important opportunity to discover previously unidentified disease-associated genetic variations.

"The take-home message is that we need to include African genomes in genetic studies. The other take-home message is that when we do that, we find new variants that are predisposing Africans to genetic diseases, which is not shocking because, once again, we are the most genetically diverse population," she said.

According to her, identifying these genetic variations could improve understanding of why certain diseases occur more frequently or present more aggressively in African populations.

She maintained that a better understanding of genetic risks, combined with public awareness and participation in research, would position African populations to benefit from emerging advances in genomic and precision medicine.

Establish genomic research centres in Nigeria – Ashiru

For his part, the President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor Oladapo Ashiru, called on the Federal Government to establish dedicated genomic research centres, arguing that Nigeria had trained specialists capable of undertaking advanced genomic investigations but continued to depend heavily on collaborations with foreign institutions.

He said genomic research had transformed the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of several diseases, making it possible to identify genetic abnormalities and, in some cases, prevent their transmission to future generations.

Using sickle cell disease as an example, Ashiru explained how preimplantation genetic testing could help couples at risk of having children with the condition select embryos without the disease for transfer during IVF.

"We can have somebody who is a sickle cell carrier. We can make that woman produce eggs, fertilise with the donor sperm, and can now separate and identify the genetic compositions of those embryos and identify those embryos that are SS or AS or normal. We can transfer the normal embryo into the woman so she can now have a normal baby," he said.

Ashiru said the potential economic returns from genomic research provided another compelling reason for government investment, citing estimates that every dollar invested could generate about $140 in returns through improved health outcomes and other benefits.

Beyond genomic medicine, the Academy president stressed the need to translate scientific knowledge into public health benefits, warning that many Nigerians remained unaware of the influence of genetics, diet, lifestyle and environmental exposures on their health.

He also challenged the government to make greater use of expertise available within Nigeria's scientific and medical community, arguing that the country had specialists whose knowledge was recognised internationally.

According to him, stronger collaboration between government and the Academy of Medical Sciences could help shape evidence-based health and science policies, strengthen research capacity and improve healthcare delivery.

Climate change may unleash deadly fungi on humans, scientists warn

Researchers identify drug-resistant Candida auris as warning sign of emerging fungal threats as global warming drives heat adaptation

By Admin

Scientists have warned that rising global temperatures could increase the risk of deadly fungal infections in humans by enabling more fungi to develop the ability to survive at body temperature, weakening one of humanity's natural defences against infection.

The warning comes amid growing concern over the emergence and spread of Candida auris, a potentially deadly, drug-resistant fungus that can thrive at human body temperature and has demonstrated the ability to survive temperatures as high as 47°C.

The findings, contained in a 2026 research paper by Carla Schuh and Chaitanya Gokhale, titled Candidozyma auris (Candida auris) as a harbinger of novel fungal pathogens, raise concerns that environmental warming could favour fungi capable of overcoming the temperature barrier that has historically limited their ability to infect humans.

The researchers argue that climate change may be creating conditions in which previously harmless environmental fungi could evolve greater heat tolerance and become potential human pathogens.

The concern is particularly significant because the human body, with an average temperature of approximately 37°C, provides a hostile environment for most fungal species.

Although millions of fungi exist in nature, only a relatively small proportion can tolerate the temperature inside the human body and cause disease.

However, scientists fear that rising environmental temperatures could gradually change this biological equation, allowing more fungal species to adapt to conditions previously too hot for them to survive.

Candida auris, first identified in 2009, illustrates the danger. The fungus has emerged as a serious healthcare-associated pathogen, causing severe infections, particularly among hospitalised patients and people with weakened immune systems.

Its ability to survive on surfaces, spread in healthcare facilities and resist multiple antifungal drugs makes it especially difficult to control.

The researchers' warning also comes against the backdrop of the enormous global burden of fungal diseases, which affect millions of people annually. An estimated 6.5 million people worldwide develop serious fungal infections each year.

Beyond environmental warming, the researchers point to another development that deserves attention: changes in human body temperature.

A Stanford University study examining historical records found that average body temperature among American men had declined by approximately 0.59°C since the 19th century, equivalent to about 0.03°C per decade.

The finding has prompted questions about whether changes in human physiology, alongside rising environmental temperatures, could further alter the relationship between humans and fungal pathogens.

However, the research does not establish that declining human body temperature is directly responsible for increasing fungal infections, nor does it prove that climate change caused the emergence of Candida auris.

The broader concern is that environmental conditions may increasingly favour fungi capable of surviving inside the human body.

Scientists are consequently calling for stronger fungal disease surveillance, improved laboratory detection, better infection prevention and control, and accelerated development of new antifungal medicines.

The warning carries particular weight for healthcare systems already battling antimicrobial resistance, as treatment options for serious fungal infections remain limited.

Although the prospect of a fungus-driven pandemic resembling the fictional apocalypse in the television series The Last of Us remains far-fetched, researchers say the real threat should not be dismissed.

Unlike the fictional fungus that controls human behaviour, Candida auris causes real and potentially fatal infections, with resistance to available treatments complicating patient management.

For scientists, the emerging challenge is to understand how climate change could reshape fungal evolution before more environmental species acquire the ability to infect humans.

Ebola: Two suspected cases test negative in Adamawa

By Precious Dipe 

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has ruled out Ebola Disease in two suspected cases identified in Yola, Adamawa State, following two rounds of laboratory testing that returned negative results.

The development means the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) index case remains the only laboratory-confirmed Ebola case reported in Nigeria, according to the NCDC.

Director-General of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, October 31, 2026, saying the suspected cases were detected after the Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre received an alert in the early hours of Friday, October 30.

The two individuals had presented with symptoms suggestive of Ebola, prompting their isolation and the activation of appropriate public health measures.

According to Idris, samples collected from the individuals were subjected to laboratory testing, with both rounds returning negative results for Ebola virus.

He commended the Adamawa State Commissioner for Health and his team for their prompt response, assuring that the NCDC would continue to provide technical support to strengthen the state's response operations.

"Currently, there is no laboratory-confirmed Ebola case in Adamawa State. The index case previously confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory remains the only confirmed case reported in Nigeria to date," he said.

The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information or speculation, advising the public to rely on official government and public health communication channels for updates.

Idris, however, warned that Ebola remains a serious infectious disease requiring early detection, prompt clinical management and strict infection prevention and control measures.

He advised anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, particularly after possible exposure, to seek immediate medical attention and disclose relevant travel or contact history to healthcare workers.

He also cautioned against self-medication, urging members of the public to follow professional medical advice.

The NCDC said it would continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with the Adamawa State Government and other relevant stakeholders, promising further updates as verified information becomes available.

NCDC rules out Ebola in two suspected cases in Adamawa

By Precious Dipe

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has ruled out Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in two suspected cases in the North Eastern State of Adamawa after two rounds of laboratory testing returned negative results, confirming that the Federal Capital Territory remains the only location with a laboratory-confirmed case in Nigeria.

The NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Saturday night, saying the two individuals were identified in Yola after presenting with symptoms suggestive of Ebola.

According to him, the Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre received the report in the early hours of October 30, prompting an alert and the activation of appropriate public health measures.

Idris said the suspected cases were immediately isolated, while samples were collected for laboratory investigation to establish the cause of their illnesses.

He explained that the NCDC was working closely with the Adamawa State Government, through the Ministry of Health and Human Services, to investigate the cases and strengthen response operations.

Commending the state Commissioner for Health and his team for their proactive response, the NCDC chief assured that the agency would continue to provide technical support to the state.

He reiterated that the previously confirmed case in the Federal Capital Territory remained Nigeria's only laboratory-confirmed Ebola case to date.

The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified reports or speculation, advising the public to rely on official government and public health communication channels for accurate information.

It also warned that Ebola is a serious infectious disease requiring early detection, prompt clinical management and effective infection prevention and control measures.

Idris advised anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, particularly following possible exposure, to seek immediate medical attention and disclose relevant travel or contact history to healthcare workers.

He cautioned against self-medication and urged the public to follow the advice of healthcare professionals.

The NCDC said it would continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with the Adamawa State Government and other relevant stakeholders, promising to provide further updates as verified information becomes available.

AMR: Lagos art exhibition targets public awareness, behavioural change

By David Comix

As antimicrobial resistance threatens to render life-saving medicines ineffective and make once-treatable infections harder to cure, about 15 Nigerian artists are turning to paintings, music, drama and interactive experiences to mobilise public action against the growing health threat.

The artists will showcase their works at Microbe Madness 2.0, an initiative of Art for Health Initiative scheduled for November 18 in Lagos, as part of efforts to make the dangers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) more understandable and inspire behavioural change.

The event, tagged Microbe Madness 2.0, is being organised by Art for Health Initiative in collaboration with the DRASA, Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art and BNL Healthcare. It will hold at CEP Entertainment and Media Hub, Lekki Phase 1, under the theme, “One Action for Our Future.”

The initiative comes amid growing global concerns over antimicrobial resistance, a major public health threat that occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites develop resistance to medicines designed to treat infections, making treatment increasingly difficult and, in some cases, ineffective.

The development threatens the effectiveness of essential medicines, increases the risk of complications from infections and could undermine routine medical procedures, including surgery.

Founder of Art for Health Initiative, Chidera Aneke, said the event was designed to make the AMR conversation more accessible by using creativity and storytelling to connect public health concerns with people's everyday decisions.

“Protecting the future of medicine requires a collective effort. Everyone has a role to play, and our contribution is to make health information accessible through art, creativity and innovative storytelling,” Aneke said.

She added that the organisers hoped participants would leave with practical steps they could take to help preserve the effectiveness of medicines.

“Art has a way of carrying messages across generations. We want people to enjoy the experience, connect with the stories and leave with one action they can take to protect our shared future,” she said.

The event will feature an art exhibition, animation, drama, music and interactive games designed to stimulate conversations around AMR, infection prevention and responsible medicine use.

A dedicated mental health corner will also showcase artworks produced during the organisation's “What We Carry” workshop, extending the event's engagement to emotional wellbeing.

According to the organisers, Microbe Madness is part of the initiative's sustained efforts to address AMR, one of its key public health priorities. The Lagos edition builds on the inaugural event held in Enugu in 2024.

The November 18 event coincides with the opening of World AMR Awareness Week, which runs from November 18 to 24, and comes ahead of Nigeria's hosting of the Fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR in Abuja from December 6 to 8, 2026.

The organisers said the Lagos gathering would provide an opportunity to take the AMR conversation beyond health institutions and policy discussions into the wider community, highlighting the role individuals can play in preventing infections and safeguarding the medicines needed by future generations.

Journalists, creatives, health professionals, students, community members and prospective partners are participating.

Nigeria identifies 2 fresh suspected Ebola cases

NCDC isolates patients, begins contact tracing as laboratory tests commence

By Seun Greeners

Nigeria has identified two new suspected cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the North-East, raising fresh concerns over the country's efforts to contain the deadly infection following the confirmation of an imported case in Abuja.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed this in its Ebola Situation Report update, October 31, 2026, confirming that both individuals had been isolated while contact identification and listing were underway.

Laboratory investigations are also being conducted to establish whether the suspected cases are indeed Ebola infections.

However, the agency cautioned against interpreting the development as confirmation of additional Ebola infections, stressing that the classification of the individuals as suspected cases does not mean they have tested positive.

The NCDC did not disclose the states where the two suspected cases were identified, their travel histories or possible sources of exposure.

The development comes barely 11 days after Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in more than a decade, involving a 42-year-old foreign woman who tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus in Abuja on October 20.

The woman, who had travelled to Nigeria from Uganda through Ethiopia, was subsequently isolated and treated before being medically evacuated to Switzerland on October 26 following a formal request from her country.

In its October 29 Ebola situation report, the NCDC disclosed that 62 contacts linked to the confirmed case had been identified and were under monitoring.

The agency also reported no new contacts identified and no symptomatic contacts in the preceding 24 hours. One suspected case reported in Enugu State had tested negative.

It is not yet clear whether the two newly identified suspected cases in the North-East have any epidemiological connection with the Abuja case.

Meanwhile, the NCDC has urged Nigerians to maintain good hand hygiene, practise enhanced sanitation and follow guidance issued by public health authorities.

The agency assured the public that further updates would be provided as verified information becomes available.

Nigeria to recruit 100,000 community health workers by 2028

...As Africa's plans recruitment of 2m frontline health workers by 2030

By David Comix

Nigeria has committed to recruiting 100,000 salaried community health workers by 2028 as African leaders launch an ambitious continental plan to employ two million frontline health workers across 51 countries by 2030, in a major push to expand access to primary healthcare.

The commitment was announced in Abuja on Friday at the launch of the Community Health Programme Continental Acceleration Plan 2026–2030, formally inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The plan seeks to address Africa's shortage of frontline health personnel, strengthen primary healthcare systems and improve access to essential health services, particularly in underserved communities.

Speaking at the event, Shettima said community health workers were indispensable to achieving universal health coverage, citing their roles in identifying maternal health risks, reaching unvaccinated children, collecting household health data and detecting disease outbreaks.

He called for their legal recognition, regular remuneration, adequate support and equitable deployment, stressing that primary healthcare could not be sustained without a properly supported community workforce.

Shettima disclosed that Nigeria would require an estimated 315,000 community health workers by 2030, adding that the Federal Government was working to bridge the shortfall through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.

Under the initiative, the government plans to revitalise more than 17,000 primary healthcare centres, train 120,000 frontline health workers and employ 100,000 salaried community health workers by the end of 2028.

He also called on African governments to reduce their dependence on external funding for community health programmes by strengthening domestic financing, adopting nationally owned implementation plans and providing dedicated budgetary allocations.

Providing a continental perspective, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC, said the two-million-worker target builds on an African Union commitment made in 2017, which has so far been achieved by just over half.

The agency estimated that Africa would require $4.3 billion annually to meet the target, projecting that every dollar invested could generate up to $19 in economic and social benefits.

It identified Nigeria's commitment to employing 100,000 salaried community health workers as an important contribution to the continental ambition.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, commended President Tinubu for approving Nigeria's hosting of the high-level forum, describing the initiative as significant to strengthening community health systems and advancing primary healthcare delivery across Africa.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to strengthening primary healthcare and expanding the community health workforce under the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.

In her remarks, Kachollom acknowledged the contributions of the African Union Commission, Africa CDC, development partners and other stakeholders, stressing that sustained investment, effective partnerships and coordinated implementation would be critical to translating the plan's ambitions into improved health outcomes.

Tinubu serves as the African Union Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership.