Prof Ekanem Braide (President, Nigerian Academy of Science):
Oratory on Professor Christian Happi
Christian Happi is a Professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics. He is the Director of the World Bank-funded African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) in Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. After obtaining a Ph.D. from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 2000, he proceeded to Harvard University for his Post-Doctoral Fellowship, 2000-2003. He currently leads the joint WHO Africa Region/Africa Centres for Disease Control (AfCDC); providing information for programmatic action for the effective control of COVID-19 and other emerging pathogens in Africa. His research focus is on genomics of infectious diseases and human genomics. He diagnosed the first case of Ebola virus disease in Nigeria in 2014 and worked closely with Nigerian health authorities for the successful containment of the recent Ebola out-break in Nigeria. Using advanced genomics and deep sequencing technology, Professor Christian Happi and colleagues sequenced the first 99 Ebola virus genomes during the 2014-2016 West African Ebola out-break, and made these openly accessible to the international scientific and research community, thus, pioneering open- access genomics data. His team also developed the first rapid diagnostics test against Ebola Virus disease within 6 months of the 2014-2016 Ebola out-break in West Africa. The US FDA and WHO approved this diagnosis under emergency use authorisation.
In 2007, Professor Happi developed and performed the first on-site molecular diagnosis of Lassa Fever in Nigeria, at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Edo State, Nigeria. He has since worked with collaborators to develop a novel 5-minute rapid diagnosis test for Lassa Fever. These first genome sequencing of the Lassa Fever virus resulted in the acceleration of the development of Lassa fever vaccines, among which three (3) are currently undergoing clinical trials in Nigeria and other West African countries. Professor Happi, recently, used next generation sequencing technology to perform the first sequence of the new SARS-CoV-2 in Africa, within 48 hours of receiving sample of the first index case in Nigeria. Since then, he has performed genome sequencing of over 500 SARS-CoV-2 in Nigeria, along the line discovering the new B.1.525 variant of concern in Nigeria. This work on COVID-19 genomics has not only provided an insight into the detailed genetic map, origins, evolution, transmission and spread of the new corona virus in Nigeria and Africa but paved the way to his developing a new COVID-19 nucleic acid-based rapid (15mins) diagnostics test. His work has also resulted in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate (COVID-Diovax).
Professor Happi has received several prestigious national and International Awards for Innovation and Health Leadership.
Professor Christian Happi embodies the passion, intellectual drive and innovative spirit that African scientific leaders need for discoveries that will help the continent stem its scientific and academic challenges. It is my pleasure to invite Professor Christian Happi to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Science.