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General News

Good News as Scientists Find Ebola Vaccines

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A pair of experimental Ebola vaccines that protect monkeys from the fatal disease ravaging West Africa have been developed.

According to a new study, the vaccine is effective for at least five weeks in lab monkeys but requires boosting with an additional vaccine to extend its protection to 10 months.

The findings offer a glimpse of which – if any – of the Ebola vaccines in development will prove effective, and in what form.

Pharmaceutical firms are accelerating their efforts to provide Ebola vaccines and treatments as the worst known outbreak of the virus tears through West Africa, killing more than 2,000 people.

The worst known outbreak of the Ebola virus has ravaged West Africa, killing more than 2,000 people.

The results of the new study suggest, for instance, that a vaccine by pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) now being tested on healthy volunteers will protect against Ebola infection in the short term, but may have to be augmented for long-term protection.

The study, published in Nature Medicine, is the first to report that a vaccine regimen produced ‘durable immunity’ against Ebola, protecting four out of four monkeys for 10 months.
 
The vaccine uses a chimp adenovirus, closely related to a human version that causes upper respiratory tract infections, into which scientists spliced an Ebola gene.

The adenovirus infects cells in a vaccinated animal, causing them to take up the gene and produce Ebola proteins.

That primes the immune system to attack the proteins of Ebola viruses when an infection occurs

The vaccine in the study is similar to competing vaccines being developed by GSK, which began human safety trials last Tuesday, and by Johnson & Johnson (J&J), which aims to start safety trials in early 2015.

A third experimental Ebola vaccine uses a different delivery system, a livestock pathogen called vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV).

A version developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada and licensed to NewLink Genetics is scheduled to be tested for safety in healthy volunteers this fall.

Profectus BioSciences is also developing a VSV vaccine.

In the new study, led by Nancy Sullivan of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), researchers sought to see whether a double dose of vaccine in a regimen called ‘prime-boost’ would address two different clinical needs.

One is protecting against Ebola immediately, said Dr Anthony Fauci, NIAID director as when a person is heading to an area with an Ebola outbreak.

In the study, an adenovirus vaccine essentially the same as GSK’s does so: four of four vaccinated macaque monkeys given otherwise lethal doses of Ebola five weeks later survived and had no detectable virus in their blood. All unvaccinated monkeys died within six days.

The other need is to protect someone whose stay in an Ebola zone lasts months.

Here, the adeno vaccine faltered at one dose: when eight vaccinated macaques were exposed to Ebola 10 months later, six died.

With a new group of macaques, however, the scientists followed the initial adeno vaccine eight weeks later with a booster shot using a different carrier virus, called MVA (modified vaccine Ankara) and carrying the same Ebola gene. This time, all four infected monkeys were still protected at 10 months.

The human trial of the GSK vaccine uses a single adenovirus dose: regulators require safety trials to test each element of a regimen separately, said NIAID’s Fauci, so any adverse events can be traced more easily.

GSK also plans to test a two-dose prime-boost version, said spokeswoman Mary Ann Rhyne.

J&J’s Ebola vaccine consists of an adenovirus prime followed by an MVA boost made by Bavarian Nordic.

‘After the boost, protection is not only stronger but also longer-lasting,’ said J&J spokesman Daniel De Schryver.

Thomas Geisbert of the University of Texas Medical Branch works on the VSV-based Ebola vaccine being developed by Profectus.

He questioned the practicality of a two-shot vaccine regimen.

‘You really need a fast-acting single injection vaccine’ for protecting a community during an outbreak or preparing first responders and healthcare workers, he said.

Only VSV vaccines have been shown to protect lab monkeys when given after infection with Ebola, Geisbert said: ‘This makes it so much more useful than any of the other vaccines. For outbreaks, it works fast.’


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

General News

Nigerian Military Makes History with Africa’s First Attack Drones, Bombs

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Nigerian Military, in partnership with Briech UAS, a communications company, has unveiled the first and largest indigenous attack drones and bombs in Nigeria and Africa.

Nigerian Military Makes History with Africa’s First Attack Drones, Bombs

Briech UAS, alongside the Nigerian Army, demonstrated these attack drones and bombs at the company’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

General Christopher Musa, chief of Defence Staff (CDS), hailed the initiative as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s progress toward self-reliance in defence technology and a crucial step in enhancing national security.

Musa highlighted the importance of developing combat drones, particularly for intelligence gathering. He pointed out that these drones would play a pivotal role in addressing complex and asymmetric security threats.

“These force multipliers will greatly enhance the operational effectiveness of our military, especially in a world where global politics complicate the procurement of advanced military hardware,” he stated.

“Countries that do not produce these solutions face bureaucratic and diplomatic challenges when acquiring essential platforms. We are directly addressing this challenge.

“If we do not produce what we need, we will be at the mercy of others, even if we have the financial resources to acquire them.

“By manufacturing these drones locally, Nigeria reduces dependence on foreign resources, ensures faster acquisition, and strengthens its ability to respond to security threats swiftly.

“With the brilliant minds we have, particularly among our youth, we can create outstanding technology that competes on a global scale,” Musa said.

Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang underlined the importance of supporting indigenous products for Nigeria’s growth.

He stressed that the drones would be vital in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, particularly in Plateau State, where some of these technologies have already been deployed to enhance the efficiency of ground forces.

Mutfwang also revealed that his state was collaborating with local bomb and drone manufacturers like Briech UAS to counter insurgency with domestically produced weapons.

“As a nation, we made a mistake by allowing non-state actors to acquire capabilities nearly on par with state actors,” he stated.

“We’ve entered into a partnership that has led to the deployment of these facilities in our state. We’ve seen substantial improvements in the effectiveness of our security forces.

“It was a mistake to let non-state actors gather capabilities that could almost overpower legitimate state forces. We must correct that imbalance.

“We must ensure no one within our borders has capabilities that surpass or match those responsible for protecting our national sovereignty,” he added.

Earlier, Dr Bright Echefu, chairman of Briech UAS, noted that insurgent groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have been using commercial drones for reconnaissance and attacks.

“These drones have been used to track and attack our troops, coordinating ambushes and executing crude aerial strikes,” he said.


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General News

FG Trains 49 Persons with Disabilities in IT Skills

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Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), has trained and graduated 49 persons with disabilities (PWDs) from a nine-month IT programme aimed at bridging Nigeria’s digital divide.

FG Trains 49 Persons with Disabilities in IT Skills

The graduates, comprising 24 from DBI’s Lagos campus and 25 from its Kano campus, acquired industry-recognized certifications and essential digital skills to enhance their participation in the tech sector.

The IT Bridge Academy, a federal government initiative designed to support PWDs, provides specialized training to help them access opportunities in the modern digital economy.

The programme was implemented in partnership with Sightsavers International and is only the second of its kind in Africa, after a similar initiative in Kenya.

At the Lagos graduation ceremony, David Daser, president and CEO, DBI, represented by Viola Askia-Usoro, institute’s head of special duties, described the initiative as a major step towards digital inclusion.

“This academy is not just about education; it’s about creating opportunities for PWDs to realize their full potential,” he stated, highlighting the programme’s role in tackling stigma, discrimination, and limited access to training.

Daser urged the graduates to advocate for digital accessibility and called on public and private sector stakeholders to support inclusive initiatives that empower PWDs in Nigeria’s technology space.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, cohort 2 class governor Amos Adegboyega acknowledged the challenges they faced during the programme and expressed gratitude for the support received, saying, “There are abilities in disability, and this training has given us the confidence to achieve our dreams.”


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General News

Airbnb Community Fund Donates ₦13 Billion to Nonprofits Worldwide

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In a bid to strengthen communities worldwide, Airbnb has announced the recipients of its annual Community Fund grants for 2025. This year, the initiative will distribute over ₦13 billion ($8.5 million USD) to more than 160 nonprofits across 30 countries globally.

Among the beneficiaries are six organisations in Africa, where efforts focus on economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and combating abuse and exploitation.

Launched in 2020, the Airbnb Community Fund is a ₦153 billion ($100 million USD) initiative aimed at directly supporting communities and residents globally. By 2030, the Fund is projected to disburse its full ₦153 billion commitment.

Each year, Airbnb collaborates with local hosts to nominate and select nonprofit organisations for funding. Hosts act as key contributors, leveraging their deep understanding of community needs to guide impactful donations.

African Recipients Leading Change

This year, funding was allocated to nonprofits tackling pressing social issues. Among the African beneficiaries are:

Digify Africa, South Africa: Empowering young people with digital skills for economic growth.

AfriLabs, Nigeria: Supporting entrepreneurs with funding and networks for scaling businesses.

Children of Africa, Kenya: Advocating for vocational training and education for underprivileged girls.

Global Give Back Circle, Kenya: Providing vulnerable girls and young women with opportunities for transformative community impact.

Qhakaza Mohare, Chief Operating Officer of Digify Africa, praised Airbnb’s contribution, emphasizing its role in expanding initiatives and creating sustainable impacts in underserved communities.

Global Impact

To date, the Airbnb Community Fund has distributed over ₦55 billion ($36 million USD) to nonprofits in nearly 70 countries, with hosts driving much of its success.


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