Few hours ago, the Federal Government declared to reward the whopping sum of N36million to any Nigerian scientist who develops a vaccine to stem the scourge of Corona Virus disease (COVID-19) currently ravaging some parts of the world.
According to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, he also added that the prize sum also goes to whoever develops the vaccine for Lassa fever virus whose cases are reported in some states in the country.
The Minister spoke at the send-forth for a retiring Director of Chemical Technology Department of the Ministry, Engr. Akinyemi Oyefeso in the Ministry in Abuja on Thursday.
Dr. Onu further challenged Nigerian inventors, innovators and scientists to find a cure for various diseases that are proving intractable, adding that Nigeria is well-endowed with both human and material resources to surmount them.
He further said that Nigerian Scientists are highly rated and expressed optimism that in no distant time, the country will make key contributions in so many areas of Science and Technology to the delight of the entire world.
Dr. Onu commended the celebrant, Engr. Akinyemi Oyefeso, for his various innovations when he held forth as a Director in the Ministry. “We will need your expertise and service in future, because you have so much to offer the nation”, he added.
He advised the entire staff and management of the Ministry to rise up to the challenge of a knowledge- based economy being stridently pursued by the present administration.
Based on this, some Nigerians have already started proffering solutions to the dreaded viruses in order to take home the reward money.
“I have a perfect cure for LASSA FEVER I mean %100 but for CORONA VIRUS I will in the next 48hrs, – says one Oluwa Loni Glory.
While another acclaimed scientist, Chris Orazulike, wrote “I have a potential cure for both lassa fever and coronavirus. It is the result of a 2015 research paper which was presented at the 2018 WANNPRES Conference held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. So far it has been used in diabetes and HIV/AIDS.
