After which the citation of the Guest lecturer, Prof. Christian Happi was read, which showed that the Guest lecturer has contributed selflessly and greatly to the health sector of Nigeria and Africa; by carrying out cutting edge researches including Malaria, Ebola, Lassa fever and COVID-19.
Prof. Christian Happi is a professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics in the Department of Biological Science and the Director, World Bank-African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Disease (ACEGID) in Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State. With ACEGID, he's won several prestigious awards, like the 2021 winner of Gold Medical award of Nigerian Academy of Science.
He is known for leading a team of scientist that used Genomic sequencing to identify a single point of infection from an animal reservoir to a human in the Ebola outbreak in 2014.
During the lecture, titled GENOMIC CHARACTERIZATION AND SURVEILLANCE OF MICROBIAL THREATS IN WEST AFRICA, the Prof. said many of the technological, health and economic benefits have yet to reach to African scientists and patients. Also noted is that the pathogens found in Africa is an opportunity in disguise as these give Africa the means to teach the world science, to make discoveries, and place Africa in it's rightful place. This can be seen as it has given place to many scientific improvements and researches in Africa.
He said ACEGID is meeting Africa's critical needs for Genomics, Education and Research, and has also been transforming outbreak response in pathogens.
ACEGID has changed the way sequencing is done.
During the Ebola outbreak research (2014) in Sierra Leone, 99 full-length genes were sequenced within the first 2 weeks of the outbreak. ACEGID made the data from the research available to the public, for use by other scientists. Publications were made only 8 months later.
During the Lassa fever surge in 2018, research carried out by ACEGID showed that there was no new strain, no evidence of multiple increased or sustained human-human transmission, but multiple transmission of similar to known virus from animal reservoir.
Assisting him with the research, his wife, Dr. Anise N. Happi (former lecturer of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan) showed that Lassa fever is not only found in rodents (rats), but can also be found in other domestic animals. She recently made a publication on this.
The research, through GWAS (Genome-wide association studies) provided evidence of identification of human natural selection signals for Resistance to Lassa fever. The research also implicated LARGE in arenavirus infection and showed that modification by LARGE is necessary for blocking Lassa fever virus entry.
Other genomic research by ACEGID and it's partners are on
Rhabdovirus,
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease virus in Sub-saharan Africa,
Diversity of viruses in field Mosquito Samples in Nigeria,
Monkey pox virus,
SARS-CoV-2 genome sequenced, which had a 12 times sequence surge in 2021 (compared to 2020).
Apart from Genomics and Research, ACEGID has also engaged in Education/Training and Partnership, trained 42 out of the 54 African countries in a 3-week training.
After the lecture, there was an Award presentation was made to the Guest lecturer, presented by Barrister Oyinda Bassir (daughter of Prof. Olumbe Bassir) on behalf of the Board of Trustees.
The closing remark was given by the Vice-chancellor, represented by the DVC (Admin).
The Vote of Thanks was given by Prof. Grace Omotosho on behalf of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The 2022 Professor Olumbe Bassir Distinguished Lecture ended by 12:16pm.
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