TETFund-sponsored COVID-19 vaccine ready for trial.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) said its researchers have concluded work on the development of vaccines that would be effective against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Acting, Director, Public Affairs of TETFund, who signed the statement on behalf of TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, explained that the vaccine production cluster was made up of researchers drawn from the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom; Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos; Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos; and National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria.

He said that TETFund had disbursed a total of N1.2 billion to four clusters of researchers, and one of the clusters was the vaccine production cluster that got a total grant of N450 million to carry out the research on the COVID-19 vaccine.

ice Chancellor of Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Prof Lawal Suleiman Bilbis, who led the team of researchers to brief the Executive Secretary of TETFund, on the progress of the research, explained that they were able to make the breakthrough through the maximum support of the Fund.

He recalled how the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged and unleashed untold hardship on humanity globally, noting that Nigeria was saved by divine intervention since the nation was not prepared for such eventuality.“TETFund believed and supported us to get to where we are now. That is why we have come to give a first-hand report on the progress made so far,” he said.Read also: Oba of Benin warns against attempt to divert Benin artefacts.

In a presentation, Dr Bashir Muhammad Bello of Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, revealed that it has become a matter of urgency for Africa to join the rest of the world in the production of its own vaccine, as it was estimated that the continent currently imports 99 per cent of its vaccines and consumes 25 per cent of global vaccine supply.

He explained that this gave rise to the team coming together to form a consortium and put up a strong proposal with which they approached TETFund for sponsorship under its research and development intervention.

“We graciously got the support of TETFund, not only in COVID-19 vaccine but also in Lassa Fever and other infectious diseases, because whether we like it or not, diseases will continue to emerge and re-emerge. They don’t have international boundaries and that is why they are called pandemics. That was when we realised that we really need to sit up,” he said.“Those producing these vaccines abroad are mostly Nigerians after all. So, why can’t we do it here? That is why we decided to form a consortium and TETFund was magnanimous to release N225 million for the first tranche, he added”.

He noted that the team was meticulous in their research by ensuring that all the factors responsible for the re-emergence of different COVID-19 variants were considered to make sure they don’t manifest in future.

Responding, the TETFund boss, lauded the team for the great feat achieved within a time limit to make the country proud with the progress recorded in vaccine production.

He explained that it is a national project, and as such, it has become a national pride, assuring that TETFund would continue to assist the cross-cutting efforts of the researchers to ensure the desired goal is achieved.