Education
Meningitis C: MSF Vaccinates 148,000 People in 7 Days in Nigeria
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
About 148,000 people between the ages of one and 20 have been vaccinated by 25 Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams with about 850 people per day for seven days.
Thousands of men, women, and children in northern Nigeria have been affected by a meningitis C outbreak, reportedly the largest to hit the country in the past nine years.
Almost six months after the first cases were recorded in Zamfara State, Nigeria’s Ministry of Health (MoH) is still struggling to fight this epidemic in seven states of the country.
MSF has supported the health authorities with surveillance and case management in the most-affected locations since February, when the outbreak was officially declared.
However, the slow reaction system of the country and a global shortage of vaccines have hampered the response.
On April 15, MSF set up a 200-bed treatment centre in Sokoto town, followed by a 20-bed facility in Anka, Zamfara.
In these locations, MSF’s Nigeria Emergency Response Unit (NERU) works intensively to provide free, high-quality medical care and reduce mortality rates as much as possible.
These teams treat challenging cases in a difficult environment. “A few days ago a nine-year-old boy was brought in unconsciousness and with severe meningitis,” recalls Caroline Riefthuis, an MSF nurse in Sokoto. “He received treatment for five days and recovered, but unfortunately we found out that he had become deaf and blind—side effects of severe meningitis.”
This little boy is one of 614 patients treated in Sokoto Mutalah Mohamad Hospital since April, when MSF took over the management of the center from the MoH due to a lack of supplies and qualified staff to run it.
In Anka General Hospital, 137 patients were admitted since the beginning of the outbreak. Most are between five and twenty years old.
Tackling the Outbreak
In addition to the staff working in the treatment centres, eleven MSF surveillance teams visited health facilities to determine the origins of new cases in Sokoto, Zamfara, Yobe, Niger and Kebbi. These visits also allowed MSF to implement additional activities, such as health promotion, to increase community awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and active case finding.
At the end of April, the Nigerian MoH reported 9,646 suspected cases of meningitis C, with a total of 839 deaths since late 2016. And on May 1, MSF was finally able to join a vaccination campaign launched by the health authorities in Sokoto.
An additional campaign with a target population of nearly 130,000 will start later this month in the four most-affected LGAs of Yobe State
Late Response and Insufficient Vaccine Supplies
Although these vaccination campaigns are a crucial step to stop the spread of the disease, MSF has concerns regarding the late response to the crisis in a country where meningitis epidemics are not rare.
“The national early warning system and timely response needs to be strengthened, and the implementation strategy better-defined, to reduce the impact of the outbreak as much as possible,” explains Philip Aruna, MSF Head of Mission in Nigeria.
Even more worrisome is the global shortage of meningitis C vaccine, which contributed to the delayed response and increased mortality rates in Nigeria. “The outbreak is spreading fast and we are concerned because there are not enough vaccines to cover the affected population,” says Aruna. In Sokoto, for example, three million vaccines are required to launch a mass campaign, but only 800,000 were available. This insufficient quantity only allows for a reactive campaign, which requires teams to act fast to prevent the disease from spreading further.
To address these logistical challenges and reduce the mortality rates, MSF insists that treatment centers be decentralized so that all people affected by the disease, even those in remote areas, can access free, quality health care and the right tests to quickly confirm cases and prevent misdiagnoses. It is crucial that adequate prevention measures be put in place to avoid another delayed response when the next meningitis outbreak inevitably occurs.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, has been appointed as the chairman of the governing board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He was chosen for the role by President Bola Tinubu, according to a statement on Monday by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
Prof Ogundipe succeeds Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned his appointment after less than one year in office.
President Tinubu appointed Professor Aina in July last year, and the board members were inaugurated in November 2025.
As NUC Chairman, Prof Ogundipe will oversee the regulatory body of the Nigerian university system, focusing on funding, global competitiveness and academic stability.
He is expected to provide visionary leadership at the NUC and sustain the credibility of the Nigerian university system by advancing quality, access, and integrity in the education sector.
Prof Ogundipe headed the University of Lagos between 2017 and 2022. He is a professor of Botany with expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.
He holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos.
Currently, Prof Ogundipe, 66, serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.
He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology, London. He has also served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To improve sanitation and enhance the learning environment for students at Ebenezer Grammar School, Iberekodo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, a four-unit toilet facility has been built by OPay Digital Services Limited (OPay) in partnership with Dolly Children Foundation (DCF).
The project was commissioned on Thursday, June 18, 2026. It is expected to provide a safe and hygienic environment for the students and contribute to improved health outcomes.
It will also benefit hundreds of students by promoting healthier hygiene practices, reducing sanitation-related challenges, and creating a safer and more conducive environment for learning.
The OPay Clean Future Project aligns with broader national and global efforts to advance sustainable development, environmental protection, quality education, and community well-being. It further reflects OPay’s commitment to creating value beyond financial services through impactful corporate social responsibility initiatives while reinforcing Dolly Children Foundation’s mission of empowering children and strengthening underserved communities through sustainable development programmes.
At the commissioning, students were also given some educational and hygiene materials, while outstanding learners were recognised with school bags, sandals, and other learning resources in celebration of their academic excellence and exemplary conduct, underscoring the importance of supporting education while rewarding positive values and achievement.
“Education is the foundation of a brighter future, yet many children still face barriers to quality learning. Through the OPay Clean Future Project, we are improving sanitation, supporting education, and ensuring more students have the opportunity to learn in a safe and dignified environment,” the CSR Manager for OPay Digital Services Limited, Mr Itoro Udo, said.
Also, the Executive Director of Dolly Children Foundation, Adedolapo Osuntuyi, said, “Every child deserves access to a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment. This project addresses a critical sanitation need while promoting environmental responsibility and helping students reach their full potential.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The national pre-qualifying examinations for the eighth season of the prestigious InterswitchSPAK have been concluded.
The exercise kicked off on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and ended on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, with over 21,000 students participating, representing a 19.7 per cent increase compared with the over 18,000 registrations recorded in Season 7, underscoring continued nationwide growth and interest in the competition.
The competition is organised by Interswitch, Africa’s leading technology company focused on creating solutions that enable individuals and communities to prosper.
InterswitchSPAK was designed to identify and nurture exceptional Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) talents at the secondary school level.
The national pre-qualifying examinations marked the first stage of a rigorous selection process designed to identify the brightest young minds in STEM across the country. Successful candidates will progress through subsequent stages of the competition, culminating in a televised grand finale where finalists compete for scholarships and prizes worth over N40 million.
This year’s registration process also introduced an expanded access model, allowing parents and guardians to register their wards directly, alongside the traditional school-based registration approach. This enhancement contributed to broader participation and reinforced Interswitch’s commitment to creating inclusive access to educational opportunities for talented students nationwide.
Over the past seven seasons, InterswitchSPAK has continued to deliver impact through scholarships, mentorship, and national recognition for outstanding students, while consistently promoting educational equity and excellence in STEM education.
The overall winner of Season 8 will receive a N15 million tertiary scholarship, including monthly stipends. The first runner-up will receive a N10 million scholarship, inclusive of monthly stipends, while the second runner-up will be awarded a N5 million scholarship, also including monthly stipends. All scholarships are payable over five years. In addition, all nine finalists will receive brand-new laptops and other exciting prizes.
Beyond the top prizes, Season 8 introduces enhanced rewards for finalists placed 4th to 9th, alongside increased recognition for the teachers of students who finish in the top nine. The expanded reward structure further underscores Interswitch’s commitment to celebrating academic excellence and recognising the vital role educators play in nurturing future STEM leaders.
Commenting on the continued growth and participation in the initiative, the Executive Vice President for Group Marketing and Communications at Interswitch, Ms Cherry Eromosele, said, “The remarkable increase in registrations for Season 8 reflects the growing enthusiasm among young Nigerians for STEM education and innovation. We are encouraged by the confidence students, parents, teachers, and schools continue to place in InterswitchSPAK as a platform for academic excellence and opportunity.”
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