Nigerian University develops rapid detection Ebola test kit

9th Jan 2015 The vice chancellor of Redeemer’s university in Nigeria, Professor Debo Adeyewa has announced that the university has through a World Bank funded research center, developed a quick response test kit for the Ebola virus.  The announcement came at a press conference which was part of the institution’s sixth convocation ceremony.

The research facility, African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, successfully created the test kit which is able to detect the virus in 15 minutes. The development of the new Ebola kit will no doubt be greatly appreciated in the fight against the virus, especially in the worst hit countries.

According to Prof. Adeyewa, “The establishment of ACEGID at Redeemer’s University will not only bring academic and research success for African science, but also contribute in fundamental ways to continental health and economic development.

He added that “ACEGID and Bio innovation have developed a Rapid Response Diagnostics Test that can detect the Ebola virus within 15 minutes. An official announcement for this new development would be announced later. ACEGID is to receive five per cent royalties on total sales of this new Ebola Diagnostic Kit worldwide.”

The vice chancellor also used the opportunity to urge the government to include private tertiary institutions in the country in funding and grants for research. He said, “We win international honors but our nation tells us that our university is not good enough to do research with the public fund.”