WHO selects Nigerian varsity’s COVID-19 vaccine for further trial

NIGERIA may soon join the list of countries across the globe where the vaccine for the cure of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic is produced.

This is following the relatively cheering news from the Adeleke University, Ede in Osun State, that the World Health Organisation has selected for further trial, a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by the university.

According to the management of the university, the vaccine is being developed by the ivory tower in collaboration with scholars from five other institutions.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Solomon Adebola, disclosed this while speaking to newsmen on the 10th anniversary of the university.

He said the vaccine, developed by a team of researchers led by a lecturer at the university, was one of the two vaccine candidates selected by  the WHO  for further development in Africa.

Disclosing the identities of researchers and universities  involved in the project, Adebola mentioned Dr. Kolawole Oladipo as the lead researcher adding that  he is working scholars from Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Ilorin; and Elizade University, Ilaramokin, Ondo State.

He said, “Recently, a vaccine candidate developed by a member of our staff, Dr Kolawole Oladipo of Microbiology Department, was recognised by the WHO and the Federal Ministry of Health as one of two vaccine candidates coming from Africa and the only one from Nigeria came from Adeleke University. The other candidate is from Egypt.”

Speaking on the project, the Dean Faculty of Science, Adeleke University, Prof. Olubukola Oyawoye explained that  the study used the reserve vaccinology approach to design and highlight vaccinology procedures used for the development of the next-generation vaccines with high effectiveness.

Oyawoye, who is the deputy coordinator of the project, said the research had reached the preclinical trial stage and that ethical approval had been granted by the Oyo State Ministry of Health for the conduct of the preclinical trial.

Commenting further on the journey of the university in the last 10 years and its projection for the future, the vice chancellor said the institution had succeeded in producing quality graduates excelling in various spheres globally.

He stated that the university intends to be among the best five privately owned universities in the country, and had plans to further expand the scope of its academic programmes.Adeleke University, situated in Ede, Osun State, is owned by Deji Adeleke, the  father of the famous hip-hop singer, David Adeleke, better known as Davido.

Adeleke is the younger brother of  the deceased politician, Isiaka Adeleke, who was the first executive governor of Osun State.