Nigerian scientists and researchers have been unable to secure the N36 million prize offered by the Federal Government for discovering cures for COVID-19 and Lassa Fever.
The prize, announced on February 13, 2020, by the then Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, remains unclaimed over three years later.
Dr. Onu had challenged Nigerian scientists, stating, “I challenge all Nigerian scientists to go out and find cures for coronavirus and Lassa fever. Any scientist that is able to do this will be given N36 million.”
Despite several claims and efforts, no scientist has been successful in claiming the prize. Prof. Maurice Iwu, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, unveiled a potential cure for COVID-19 in March 2020, but the cure did not materialize.
Iwu, a Professor of pharmacognosy, appealed for support from the Federal Government and Nigerians to develop the potential cure into a drug, citing finance as the hindrance.
In response, Onu advised the research group to make its discoveries available for testing by a team set up by the Federal Government.
Subsequently, in May 2020, a committee was formed to review claims by Nigerians insisting they found the cure for COVID-19, but no conclusive results were reported.
Despite significant efforts and claims, including the most publicized attempt by Iwu and his research group, no cure for COVID-19 was developed locally, and Nigeria had to rely on imported vaccines to combat the spread of the disease.
Efforts to find a cure for Lassa Fever, a deadly seasonal disease in Nigeria, also yielded no results, with no certain cure identified.
The N36 million cash prize, intended to motivate scientists, has remained unclaimed, overshadowed by the global reliance on imported vaccines to combat COVID-19.
With COVID-19 no longer a public health concern, the offer has seemingly been overtaken by events. Lassa Fever, on the other hand, continues to be a public health emergency in Nigeria.
The N36 million cash prize, championed by the former minister, Ogbonnaya Onu, has been forgotten with the departure of the former administration, led by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Three years later, many relevant government officials are unaware of the N36 million cash prize, indicating a lack of continuity in awareness.
When contacted, the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Mr. Aurora Obed, expressed unawareness of the prize.
The Nigerian Academy of Science, tasked with vetting submissions, has not concluded the matter. Prof. Mosto Onuoha, the Academy’s President at the time of the announcement, indicated that the issue was inconclusive, with no knowledge of any scientist winning the prize.
Concerns were raised about the lack of a clear conceptualization of the cash prize, as the process lacked a defined timeline, submission procedure, or focal point. Despite the significant amount, N36 million, Prof. Onuoha emphasized that the Academy recognized the importance of money but valued other forms of recognition, such as the gold medal, in their contributions to science.
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