Otamere Gladness 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s race to develop its first Lassa fever vaccine gained momentum on Tuesday as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) challenged scientists to accelerate efforts toward producing a homegrown vaccine against a disease that kills thousands of Nigerians each year.
Speaking in Abuja during the presentation of findings, TETFund Executive Secretary Sonny Echono urged researchers to move beyond laboratory discoveries and focus on developing practical interventions capable of saving lives.
“What is the shortest route towards developing a vaccine? How can we ensure that the burden on our people is reduced?” Echono asked.
“I know a vaccine is usually the most effective mode of disease control. You vaccinate people and they become almost immune. What is the fastest path and how can TETFund support that drive so that we can achieve direct benefits and direct impact on the lives of Nigerians?” he said.
Echono said TETFund would engage relevant government agencies, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Ministry of Health, to ensure the research findings influence national health policies.
“We will escalate these findings to the relevant authorities. If we receive the validation we expect, it will strengthen our case for establishing a vaccine development centre in Nigeria,” he added.
The research, funded through a ₦250 million TETFund Mega Research Grant awarded four years ago, was conducted by the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo.
“This significant investment was not merely financial support; it was an expression of confidence in the capacity of Nigerian scientists and institutions to generate evidence-based solutions,” said Francis Aba Uba, Vice-Chancellor
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Mirian Gom 
Oluwatobi Adu 