The Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia (FUTHLafia), has launched a Vaccine Research Centre to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports and boost Africa’s capacity to combat infectious diseases.
Chief Medical Director Dr Ikrama Hassan said on Monday the centre would focus on developing vaccines for Lassa fever, yellow fever and other emerging health threats. He described the project as a step towards sovereignty, noting that imported vaccines often fail to match local strains.
The facility, conceived in 2019 but delayed by funding and bureaucracy, is being established in partnership with Innovative Biotech, Abuja, with plans for collaboration with Sokoto’s Centre for Advanced Medical Research and Training. Its first target is a locally tested Lassa fever vaccine. FUTHLafia, alongside the Federal University of Lafia, will also introduce a Master of Vaccinology programme to train African scientists and reduce brain drain.
Experts welcomed the project as a “game-changer,” aligning with Africa CDC’s goal of producing 60% of the continent’s vaccines by 2040. However, challenges remain, including funding gaps and regulatory hurdles. Dr Hassan said the centre was “a promise to my community and my country” to strengthen Nigeria’s health security.
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