News
Breakthrough as New Vaccine Clears HIV Virus in Monkeys
Global science has finally confirmed cure for Human Immune Virus (HIV), one of the world killer diseases as new studies have proved a vaccine for the monkey equivalent of HIV can eradicate the virus.
The latest report further explained that the new vaccine which cures simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), an infection found in monkeys similar to HIV, would ultimately help scientists create a human version for HIV.
In recent years, spates of findings have shown that HIV can essentially be eradicated in some patients.
Since then, scientists have been scrambling to ultimately find a cure that could drastically change the lives of millions of people worldwide.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, almost 70 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 35 million people have died of AIDS.
Globally, 34.0 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2011. Sub-Saharan Africa remains most severely affected, with nearly one in every 20 adults (4.9 per cent) living with HIV and accounting for 69 per cent of the people living with HIV worldwide.
In Nigeria, it is estimated that 3.4 million persons live with the virus.
According to the study from the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute at Oregon Health and Science University, published in the journal Nature, researchers tested the vaccine on 16 monkeys infected with an aggressive form of SIV called SIVmac239.
Nine of the 16 monkeys had the infection completely eliminated from their bodies.
These monkeys were still infection-free between one-and-a-half to three years later. Further research is needed to determine why the vaccine only worked on some monkeys. Researchers also hope to test how the vaccine affects monkeys already infected with SIV, and eventually, if the vaccine could work in humans.
A potential HIV vaccine is still years away. But recent research has developed two vaccines for other infectious diseases that could be available sooner.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was first recognized as a new disease in 1981 when increasing numbers of young homosexual men succumbed to unusual opportunistic infections and rare malignancies.
A retrovirus, now termed human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), was subsequently identified as the causative agent of what has since become one of the most devastating infectious diseases to have emerged in recent history.
HIV-1 spreads by sexual, percutaneous, and perinatal routes, however, 80 per cent of adults acquire HIV-1 following exposure at mucosal surfaces, and AIDS is thus primarily a sexually transmitted disease.
But based on the latest discovery, the authors said that they will adopt similar approach adopted for the monkeys to test a vaccine for HIV in humans. Commenting, Prof Louis Picker, from the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute at Oregon Health and Science University, said: “It is always tough to claim eradication – there could always be a cell which we didn’t analyse that has the virus in it.
But for the most part, with very stringent criteria… there was no virus left in the body of these monkeys.”
The research team looked at an aggressive form of virus called SIVmac239, which is up to 100 times more deadly than HIV. Infected monkeys usually die within two years, but in some inoculated primates, the virus did not take hold.
The vaccine is based on another virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV), which belongs to the herpes family.
It used the infectious power of CMV to sweep throughout the body. But instead of causing disease, it has been modified to spur the immune system into action to fight off the SIV molecules.
“It maintains an armed force, that patrols all the tissues of the body, all the time, indefinitely,” explained Prof Picker. The researchers gave rhesus macaque monkeys the vaccine, and then exposed them to SIV.
They found that at first, the infection began to establish and spread. But then the monkeys’ bodies started to respond, searching out and destroying all signs of the virus.
Of the monkeys that successfully responded to the vaccine, they were still clear of infection between one-and-a-half and three years later.
Prof Picker said his team was still trying to work out why the vaccination worked in only about half of the monkeys. “It could be the fact that SIV is so pathogenic that this is the best you are ever going to get.
There is a battle going on, and half the time the vaccine wins and half the time it does not,” he said. The researchers are now testing the vaccine to see if it can be used after SIV exposure to treat and potentially cure infected monkeys. They also want to see if the technique could work in humans.
Prof Picker said: “In order to make a human version, we have to make sure it is absolutely safe. We have now engineered a CMV virus which generates the same immune response, but has been attenuated (modified to lose its virulence) to the point where we think it is unequivocally safe.”
This would first have to pass through the regulatory authorities, but if it does, he said he hoped to start the first clinical trials in humans in the next two years.
Commenting on the research, Dr Andrew Freedman, from Cardiff University School of Medicine, said: “This suggests that prophylactic vaccines – vaccines designed to prevent infection – using CMV vectors may be a promising approach for HIV. While they may not prevent the initial infection, they might lead to subsequent clearance, rather than the establishment of chronic infection.”
By Naeemah Junaid
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has held strategic discussions with representatives of Trust Stamp, a NASDAQ-listed global technology company, to explore potential areas of partnership aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital trust framework and advancing innovation within the digital economy.
The meeting, chaired by NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, focused on identifying collaborative opportunities aligned with Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and the Agency’s strategic priorities for building a secure, inclusive, and innovation-driven digital ecosystem.
Inuwa emphasised that trust remains a critical foundation for the growth of the digital economy, noting that secure systems and strong cybersecurity frameworks are essential for driving innovation, economic growth, and national development. He stated that building trust in digital platforms and services is key to accelerating adoption and unlocking opportunities across sectors.
He reiterated NITDA’s mandate as a regulator to create an enabling environment through forward-looking policies and regulatory frameworks that support innovation rather than promote specific technologies. According to him, government interventions are designed to stimulate markets, create opportunities, and empower both businesses and citizens to participate fully in the digital economy.
The Director General further reaffirmed Nigeria’s openness to investments that strengthen digital infrastructure and enhance digital services, stressing that sustainable national development is best driven by private sector participation under supportive regulatory and policy frameworks. He called for continued engagement to ensure alignment with national priorities and effective integration into Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
In his remarks, Trust Stamp Vice President, Jonathan Pasha, highlighted the company’s global experience in secure verification and trust technologies, describing its approach as partnership-oriented and focused on delivering long-term value within local ecosystems. He noted that the company prioritises collaboration with governments and private sector stakeholders to address local challenges and expand access to secure digital services.
Pasha referenced Trust Stamp’s ongoing operations in Nigeria, including its collaboration with a telecommunications provider to enhance SIM swap prevention and fraud detection capabilities. He also outlined the firm’s biometric tokenisation technology, which converts biometric data into secure, privacy-preserving representations, enabling verification processes without exposing sensitive information.
He explained that the technology supports secure verification, fraud prevention, financial inclusion initiatives, and the tokenisation of real-world assets, while being designed to function effectively in low-connectivity environments and on low-specification devices to expand access to digital services.
Both parties expressed interest in advancing technical-level discussions to identify specific areas of collaboration aligned with national priorities and Nigeria’s digital transformation objectives.
NITDA reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a secure and trusted digital economy through strategic partnerships, robust regulatory frameworks, and initiatives that promote innovation, inclusion, and sustainable growth.
Three youth-led startups — Geocycle, Ecobag Mart and Leovia Farms — have emerged top winners at the Greenlabs Cohort 2 “Powering Food Systems” Demo Day, securing pre-seed funding to scale solutions targeting Nigeria’s food insecurity, post-harvest losses and climate pressures.
CADEF
The Demo Day, hosted under the Greenlabs Incubation Programme powered by the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) in partnership with Jacobs Ladder Africa (JLA), spotlighted 16 innovators selected through a nationwide call and intensive mentor-guided screening process.
Organisers said the winning solutions stood out for their scalability, environmental sustainability and potential to strengthen fragile agricultural value chains. The pre-seed support will fund prototype refinement, business registration, market validation and early commercial deployment.
Other finalists showcased at the event included Agricool and Dry Heat Solutions, with all participants advancing into a structured nine-month incubation programme focused on enterprise development, expert mentorship and access to growth resources aimed at transforming early-stage ideas into viable green businesses.
Delivering the keynote on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Emmanuel Audu Fatai described the emergence of the winners as proof that youth innovation is becoming central to Africa’s food future.
According to him, the continent’s vast agricultural potential continues to coexist with food shortages, climate stress and weak value chains, making technology-driven and energy-efficient solutions critical to achieving sustainable food security.
Executive Director of CADEF, Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, said the selection of the three winners reflects the programme’s shift from ideas to impact-driven enterprises capable of creating jobs and delivering measurable community value.
She added that beyond funding, the incubation framework is designed to instil financial discipline, integrity and long-term business sustainability among participating founders.
Chief Innovation Officer at Jacobs Ladder Africa, Karen Chelang’at, noted that the winning solutions directly address real food-system failures through renewable-energy integration, loss reduction and productivity improvement across sectors such as poultry, aquaculture and agricultural logistics.
She emphasised that the ultimate measure of success will be the ability of the startups to achieve market readiness, scale operations and generate tangible economic and environmental impact.
Organisers stressed that while policy support remains important, cross-sector collaboration and youth-driven enterprise will play a decisive role in building resilient food systems and advancing Nigeria’s transition to a green economy.
With incubation now underway and funding secured, the emergence of Geocycle, Ecobag Mart and Leovia Farms marks a significant step toward translating youth innovation into practical solutions for Nigeria’s food and climate challenges.
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s financial system, announcing that its recent upward review of the maximum deposit insurance coverage now protects about 99% of depositors in the Country.
Kabir Katata, Executive Director (Operations), NDIC, stated this on Wednesday at the Corporation’s 2025 Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting held in Enugu.
Katata, while speaking on the theme, “Deepening Stakeholder Engagement,” said the policy to expand deposit insurance coverage was deliberately designed to protect small savers, promote financial inclusion and strengthen public confidence in the banking sector.
He explained that the town hall meeting was aimed at engaging stakeholders across various sectors, including academia, market associations and civil society groups.
“The essence of this town hall meeting is to interact with our stakeholders, tell them what we do and listen to their questions so they can better understand the role NDIC plays in society. We guarantee depositors’ funds and supervise banks to ensure that depositors are protected”, he said.
Katata noted that following the 2024 review of deposit insurance coverage, depositors in Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Mobile Money Operators (MMOs) and Non-Interest Banks (NIBs) are now insured up to N5 million per depositor.
Similarly, depositors in Microfinance Banks (MFBs), Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) and Payment Service Banks (PSBs) now enjoy insurance coverage of up to N2 million per depositor.
“This means that in the event of a bank failure, depositors are promptly paid up to the insured limit,” he said.
He added that depositors with balances exceeding the insured limit would receive the initial insured sum, while the outstanding balance would be paid as liquidation dividends upon realisation of the failed bank’s assets and recovery of debts.
Highlighting improvements in the payout process, Katata referenced the recent resolution of defunct institutions, including Heritage Bank Limited, Union Homes PLC and Aso Savings and Loans PLC.
He said that the Corporation successfully leveraged the Bank Verification Number (BVN) as a unique identifier to trace depositors’ alternative accounts and transfer insured sums within days of bank closures.
“I urge all depositors to ensure that their BVN is properly linked to their bank accounts and identity records. This greatly facilitates seamless and timely access to insured deposits in the event of bank failure,” he advised.
Katata emphasised that although the NDIC works closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure sound corporate governance and regulatory compliance in banks, financial system stability remains a shared responsibility.
“While the CBN and NDIC continue to strengthen oversight, depositors also have a responsibility to remain vigilant and well-informed,” he said.
Jumia Targets Break-even in 2026 After Strong Q4 Surge
Nigeria’s Banks Race to Meet CBN Recapitalisation Deadline Amid Verification Push
IGP Designates Banks National Security Asset, Orders Crackdown on Cyber Frauds
NCC Orders Telcos Inform Subscribers of Data Breach within 48 Hours
Cybersecurity Firm Warns Against Gift Card Scams @ Saint Valentine’s Day
Firm Detected a Fivefold Surge in QR Code Phishing Attacks in the Second Half of 2025
Nigeria’s 9 Top FinTech Firms Valued at $10.6Bn in January 2026
DG NCC Tasks University Dons on Research Commercialization, IP Management to Build Global Competitive Ecosystems
Firm Detected a Scam Exploiting OpenAI’s Teamwork Features
Kaspersky Launches OT Calculator to Align Cybersecurity Investments with Business Goals
E-Financial2 days agoNAICOM Targets Resilient, Global Competition Market in Insurance Sector Consolidation
News2 days agoNITDA Explores Partnership with Trust Stamp on Digital Trust and Innovation
Telecom2 days agoNCC Orders Telcos Inform Subscribers of Data Breach within 48 Hours
E-Financial2 days agoIGP Designates Banks National Security Asset, Orders Crackdown on Cyber Frauds
E-Financial2 days agoRashidat Adebisi Unveils Strategic Roadmap for Nigeria’s Insurance Sector under NIIRA 2025
General News2 days agoCybersecurity Firm Warns Against Gift Card Scams @ Saint Valentine’s Day
Telecom2 days agoMTN Backs Bosun Tijani’s Vision for Africa’s AI Leadership
Telecom2 days agoGlobacom Promotes Valentine Gifting with Huge Discounts on Smartphones