News

Nigeria, Seven Others Begin African-led HIV Vaccine Development

Published

2 years ago

November 7, 2024

Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Mozambique have begun locally-led HIV vaccine research and development.

This was disclosed at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, themed “HIV Vaccine, Innovation, Science, and Technology Acceleration in Africa Project.”

The initiative aims to harness and catalyse African scientists to contribute to the development of an African-led, effective HIV vaccine under the ‘Bringing Innovation to Clinical and Laboratory Research to End HIV in Africa through New Vaccine Technology’ (BRILLIANT) Consortium, led by the Chief Executive Officer and President of the South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa, Prof. Glenda Gray.

The World Health Organisation, on Tuesday, named HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and 14 other pathogens as top priorities for new vaccine development.

According to UNAIDS, an estimated 39.9 million people were living with HIV globally in 2023, with an estimated 1.3 million new infections.

Africa has about 25.9 million (65 per cent) of the global burden, with Nigeria contributing about 1.9 million, making it the fourth-largest HIV burden country globally.

However, to end the HIV epidemic, an effective HIV vaccine is required to be added to the known prevention tools to stop transmission.

The U.S. Agency for International Development awarded more than $45 million to the BRILLIANT consortium through a competitive process to implement a cooperative agreement under the HIV-VISTA project.

The Executive Director of the International Research Centre of Excellence at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria and Principal Investigator in Nigeria, Prof. Alash’le Abimiku, noted that the objective of the consortium is to evaluate HIV vaccine candidates emerging from the continent.

She said, “Activities supported under the HIV-VISTA project will be implemented exclusively in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is the geographical area in the world with the highest burden of HIV.

“These new project funds will be directly applied in Africa, and substantial in-kind resources are being leveraged. This more powerful collaboration with a greater number of partners and considerable goodwill promises to deliver results while preventing the diversion of funds back to the United States.

“Through these efforts, African institutions will be encouraged to become more autonomous, generate domestic resource support, form partnerships with the private sector, and possibly create a more sustainable system for HIV vaccine R&D, which has, to date, been excessively dependent on the U.S. government.”

Expressing optimism about the project, she emphasised, “This is a true partnership that acknowledges the potential of great innovation and science from Africa to solve global health challenges, especially those that disproportionately devastate the continent.

“We are very thrilled to partner with the government of Nigeria and colleagues from South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique in this endeavour.”

The Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Temitope Ilori, noted that the HIV-VISTA study offers hope for a vaccine tailored to the needs of the population.

Ilori said, “HIV remains a significant challenge in Nigeria. Despite our progress in reducing new infections and controlling the virus, the HIV epidemic persists, hence requiring new tools for prevention. NACA has continued to provide current prevention measures, but an effective vaccine is crucial to our efforts.

“The HIV-VISTA study offers hope for a vaccine tailored to the needs of our population, and Nigeria’s involvement in this global initiative is critical. Our participation supports both local and international efforts to end AIDS and brings us closer to a vaccine that could save countless lives across Africa and beyond.

“Our partnership within the BRILLIANT consortium, guided by inclusivity, ethical standards, and USAID’s Collaborate, Learn, and Adapt framework, aligns with NACA’s commitment to serving Nigerians and advancing public health. We are confident in the scientific integrity of this initiative and fully support its goals, provided they remain aligned with Nigeria’s national interests.”

The Deputy Director of the Office of HIV/TB from USAID, Dr. Ezekiel James, stated that the study offers the opportunity to collaborate with the government of Nigeria and stakeholders.

“USAID looks forward to the outcomes of this study and the combined efforts to achieve HIV epidemic control,” James said.

On his part, the UNAIDS Country Director, Dr. Leo Zekeng, encouraged engagement with the community to create awareness of HIV vaccines and similar research that continues to break HIV transmission rates.

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.