Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Dr Sonny Echono, has urged Nigerian researchers to accelerate efforts towards developing the country’s first vaccine against Lassa fever.

Echono made the call yesterday in Abuja during the presentation of findings from the TETFund-funded Mega Research Project on Lassa Fever undertaken by the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), Benue State.

He described the recurring outbreak of Lassa fever as a major public health challenge requiring urgent scientific intervention.

Responding to the research findings, Echono said the outcome underscored the need for Nigeria to move beyond academic research and focus on practical solutions capable of improving the lives of citizens.

Dr Echono challenged the researchers to prioritise vaccine development, stressing that immunisation remains the most effective strategy for controlling infectious diseases.

The TETFund boss assured the researchers of TETFund’s commitment to working with relevant government agencies to ensure the findings translate into concrete public health interventions.

According to him, the Fund will present the research outcomes to agencies such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health, adding that successful validation could strengthen the case for establishing a vaccine development centre in Nigeria.

He commended the research team for producing findings capable of strengthening healthcare delivery and expressed optimism that better management and eventual control of diseases such as Lassa fever would significantly improve the country’s health system.

Earlier, FUHSO Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Francis Aba Uba, described the project as one of the institution’s most significant research initiatives.

He recalled that about four years ago, TETFund awarded the university a N250 million Mega Research Grant to investigate Lassa fever, describing the support as a demonstration of confidence in the ability of Nigerian scientists to develop evidence-based solutions to critical public health problems.

Uba noted that recurrent outbreaks of Lassa fever continue to threaten lives, overwhelm healthcare facilities and undermine health security across Nigeria and West Africa.

The vice chancellor thanked TETFund for supporting the relatively young institution and appealed to the Fund and the Federal Government to designate FUHSO as a National Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research.

Presenting the research findings, the Principal Investigator, Prof Joseph Okopi, said Nigeria had the highest global burden of Lassa fever, with between 5,000 and 10,000 deaths recorded annually.

Also presenting the clinical aspect of the research, Prof. Audu Onyemocho, said 1,266 participants were enrolled, while 392 suspected Lassa fever cases were investigated in Benue and Kogi states.

According to Onyemocho, bleeding, advanced age and seizures emerged as the strongest predictors of death among confirmed patients.

Speaking on future research priorities, former Director General of NEMA and adviser to the research team, Prof. John Idoko, said the ultimate objective of the project remained the development of a safe and effective Lassa fever vaccine.

MEANWHILE, the Federal Government has inaugurated the Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Committee, kick-starting a new national awards programme that will reward outstanding academic research with a yearly prize pool of about N365 million.

Speaking at the inauguration of the committee in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the National Laureate Programme as a strategic initiative aimed at placing academic excellence, research, innovation and commercialisation at the heart of Nigeria’s development agenda.

According to him, the programme seeks to transform the country’s reward system by giving scholarly achievements the same national recognition accorded to excellence in other sectors, while inspiring young researchers, innovators and inventors to develop solutions that drive economic growth.

Alausa directed the newly inaugurated committee to develop transparent award criteria, engage tertiary institutions nationwide and ensure the successful hosting of the maiden National Laureate Awards in November 2026.

The panel is chaired by Emeritus Prof. Abubakar Sambo, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, and comprises representatives of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Nigerian Academy of Letters, the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders.