Nathan Tamarapreye
A Bayelsa-based indigenous scientist, Chief Apollos Keniyinbo, has commended the Federal Government for involving Nigerian researchers across board in the search for a home-grown remedy for Coronavirus.
Speaking in Yenogoa on Tuesday, Keniyinbo said the invitation to local scientists to showcase their solution to the virus was a reassurance that government believe in the capacity of Nigerian scientists, adding that it was also a move to enhance the patriotism of home-based scientists.
Keniyinbo, who heads the Centre for Creative Scientists in Niger Delta, said that he had since taken advantage of the window to submit his remedy for evaluation.
According to him, COVID-19 has defied conventional thinking, noting that there was need for Nigeria to look beyond the developed countries for a vaccine and cure for the virus.
“The invitation to Nigerian researchers and scientists by the Nigerian government to join efforts in the search for a home grown remedy coordinated by the Minister of Science and Technology deserves commendation.
“The Minister did set up a Committee to evaluate the claims and remedy by home based researchers and the open mindedness of the committee has sent a message of hope to Nigerian scientists, it encouraged me and I have travelled from Bayelsa to meet them in Abuja.
“From when the pandemic broke out in China, I started working on a solution and in February 2020, my formulation was ready, but before now, I have not been given the opportunity to present my findings for scrutiny.
“So I have accepted the opportunity and submitted an outline of my research findings for scientific scrutiny and evaluation and they have promised to invite me at a later date to throw more light,” he said.
Keniyinbo, who studied analytical chemistry, said he was conversant with the procedures and processes for vaccine production and had administered the remedy on animals to ascertain that the formulation is not toxic.
“I am so optimistic that my solution is effective and I have even administered it on myself and it is not toxic at all and I look forward to further opportunity to subject my remedy to further and wider testing.
“The solution has four components, which are actually existing drugs compounded in a certain proportion and I am ready to produce for validation and trials.
“The solution I have developed is effective for prevention and cure, and by using, it I have no fear whatsoever of COVID-19.
“The process has been documented in the scientific format; all that is left is to mass produce the documentation which includes the formulae and dosage modules,’’ Keniyinbo said.
He noted that research was capital intensive, and appealed to the three tiers of government to make grants available to scientists with prospects and encourage collaboration among indigenous scientists.