News

Nigeria Earns Recognition For Hypertension, Typhoid, Sickle Cell Drugs, Others

Published

3 years ago

December 13, 2022

Nigeria is now recognised by global health organisations for its breakthrough in the production of drugs for hypertension, typhoid, sickle cell anaemia snake bite and other ailments using local substances, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Adeleke Mamora, announced in Abuja, yesterday.
The minister made the revelation while presenting the scorecard of the ministry of STI showcasing the achievement of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in that sector of the economy from 2015 to 2022.
Although the minister did not list the global bodies that have given their stamp of approval to the drugs developed by Nigeria, he also indicated that the country has made tremendous progress in its effort to produce bread from cassava, a staple in the country.
Mamora said, “These inventions have taken the centre state globally. The ones I remember very well is the sickle cell drug. Nigeria has a very large number of sicklers or carriers of sickling cells. The drug developed by Nigeria has been acknowledged globally. There is also the anti-snake venom that has also been acknowledged globally.
“There is also the typhoid vaccine that Nigeria has produced and has been globally acknowledged. We need to focus on what Nigeria has been able to do, especially in the area of health care because outsiders will not come to help us. Nigeria has also developed a payment platform that has been given international recognition,” he said at the briefing coordinated by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Mamora acknowledged the increased funding which the Buhari administration had given to the STI sector since coming into power, saying that the gesture had enabled the ministry to explore new frontiers in Nigeria’s Research and Development and achieve some breakthroughs that have made Nigeria to stand out.
On what the STI sector had contributed to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product in the last eight years, Mamora indicated that no fewer than 5.7million jobs had been created by STI-induced projects and programmes, relying on figures made available by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The minister, who was flanked by his Minister of State, Chief Ikechwukwu Ikoh, and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Monilola Udoh, said that the jobs came from mining, manufacturing, transportation, ICT, health services and other professional activities spurred by STI.
He announced that the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIR), has been able to gradually produce bread from cassava, replacing flour use up to 10percent level at the moment and making more inroads into achieving more in that area.
The minister also listed other breakthroughs recorded by the ministry to include the production of Jet Engine; collaboration with a Belgium Helicopter Company, on Made-in-Nigeria H3 Ultralight Helicopter, developing and producing Rotary furnace; Bricks Moulding Machines, acquiring Advance Manufacturing Technology Equipment for the production of Industrial Machine parts and components; and development and Production of Non-Metallic Vehicle Parts Using Kenaf Fibres Reinforced Polymer Composite.
He boasted: “Our future is full of optimism as long as we keep faith and leverage the enormous power of science, technology, and innovation (STI) coupled with demand-driven research and development programmes, projects, and activities for advancing the frontiers of industrialisation; nutrition and food security; energy and power self-sufficiency; and maintenance of national defense and internal security.
“The fourth industrial revolution will register Nigeria’s presence and effective participation if we escalate and sustain current commitment and interest in research and innovation as principal push factors for technological advancement. But we need courage, discipline and focus on fundamental principles of the culture of result-based management logical framework where all policy implementation efforts will produce outcomes with a positive impact on our collective mandate, vision, mission, and core values.
“A new paradigm shift of ensuring that all stakeholders within the STI ecosystem are in strategic alliances, especially between the academia/R&D institutes and the organised private sector establishments to facilitate commercialisation and innovation breakthroughs and funding as well as enhanced global standards of made-in-Nigerian products and services.
“The ministry is taking STI and research to the sub-national levels of governance in Nigeria by establishing the technology and innovation centres for global competitiveness in the six global competitiveness Hubs in Nigeria where all stakeholders in the STI ecosystem will remain in constant touch and relate appropriately to advance knowledge and modernise existing traditional technologies for enhanced productivity and poverty alleviation.
“We shall deploy scientific research and innovative thinking for the exploration, exploitation, and harnessing of abundant natural resources and human potential of Nigeria in creating our common wealth for the wellbeing and good of our people,” Mamora stated.

News

HYPREP Tightens Security At Project Sites

Published

3 hours ago

November 30, 2025

The Tide

Following the rupture of the ground tank of its water facility in Ebubu Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has tightened security across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

HYPREP, which dropped this hint in a statement signed by its Head of Communications, Dr Enuolare Mba-Nwigoh, said the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey had given the directive for security to be tightened across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

Mba-Nwigoh noted that the tightening of security across the project sites has become necessary to forestall interference with the facilities.

He further disclosed that following the rupture of the ground tank of the Ebubu water facility, a team led by HYPREP’s Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi has visited the scene of the incident to assess the situation, stressing that the water facility has been cordoned off for public safety.

The statement indicated that following the incident, HYPREP has henceforth barred non-project personnel and non-facility staff from gaining access into any of its active project sites in Ogoniland without authorisation.

While appealing to residents of Ebubu Community and the public to remain calm, the Head of Communications assured them that the Project is taking prompt steps to restore water to the community, saying, the cause of the unfortunate incident is being investigated.

He equally noted that the Chief Security Officer of HYPREP has been directed to immediately tighten security across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

The statement said HYPREP is deeply concerned about the incident, stressing that despite the setback, the Project reiterates its commitment to delivering sustainable cleanup in Ogoniland.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

7 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

7 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa