54-GENE, a million dollar biotech start-up in Lagos has partnered with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to improve COVID-19 testing capacity in the country.

A fund to tackle the current challenges around testing for coronavirus also known as COVID-19 set up by 54gene, an African genomics research services have reached $500,000 less than 24 hours of its launch on Thursday.

54gene opened the fund with a donation of $150,000 and within 24 hours an additional $350,000 was secured from partners including Union Bank.

The genomics research service plans to utilise the fund by increasing the COVID-19 testing capacity in Nigeria by up to 1,000 additional tests a day. To achieve this, the company will buy testing instruments and the required biosafety materials such as biosafety cabinets and personal protective equipment needed to keep frontline healthcare workers safe.

“With the Nigeria COVID-19 Testing Fund, we are working in sync with the NCDC to make Nigeria’s public health an absolute priority during this global pandemic, which has left thousands dead or fighting for their lives,” Abasi Ene-Obong, CEO 54gene said in a statement. “We are extremely ambitious in our mission to expand the testing capacity for Nigeria and expect to increase the present rate by at least 10X in the coming weeks. In order to contain the spread of COVID-19, it is essential for us to know who has the disease, so we can put in place effective measures around quarantining confirmed cases.”

He said the rapid response of the partners was a clear exhibition that they understand the need for a multi-stakeholder, co-ordinated plan, that can be implemented almost immediately, as they work together as a community, side-by-side, to fight COVID-19 and protect the Nigerian population.


The partners are also in discussion with other Nigerian institutions, as 54gene hopes to raise enough to accelerate and expand to up to 5,000 tests per day. By intensifying the testing process for COVID-19, 54gene and funding partners plan to help minimize the spread of the infection, which has had a devastating effect on populations around the world. The team is also making a call for a COVID-19 workforce trained in using qPCR instruments and other molecular diagnostics methods, with the expectation that monies raised will be channelled towards recruiting these people for a period of time to support existing public laboratories.

“This is the kind of support we need. Identify a problem, run with it and include a sustainability plan in your solution. We are very grateful for this new partnership with 54gene at a critical point in our health security,” Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General of NCDC, said.

Working in unison with the NCDC and other stakeholders, 54gene’s team expects to start deploying the fund within days, purchasing vital testing equipment, to be used by medical professionals. All equipment will be installed in public hospitals and laboratories across Nigeria, and will remain in situ once the current COVID-19 pandemic subsides, to be used by medical researchers and clinicians in case of any future outbreaks. In addition, there will also be significant investment in providing training and support to medical professionals/ personnel and volunteers working in coronavirus testing sites across the country, ensuring the mass roll out of effective and robust testing for tens of thousands more Nigerians.

To-date, the NCDC has recorded 51 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and the Nigerian Government has taken a number of important steps to control the spread of the disease, including imposing flight and travel restrictions, as well as producing stringent guidelines for mass gatherings and self-isolation.

It is pertinent to note here that this biotech company was started some months ago by a young Nigerian professional - Dr. Obong and it’s the first of its kind on the continent.

https://businessday.ng/technology/article/54genes-fund-to-increase-coronavirus-testing-in-nigeria-hits-500000-in-24hrs/

It is pertinent to recall here that 54-GENE is a biotech start-up in Lagos that was founded by a young Nigerian some months ago. It is the first of its kind in Africa. He is working with a group of talented young Nigerian professionals who run the new biotech start up company called 54 GENE in Lagos.

The company is one of the biotech future of the continent. It’s a million dollar start-up based in Lagos and it was founded by a young Nigerian.

They are now trying to partner with NCDC on tackling the Coronavirus pandemic.

WE NEED MORE OF THIS!



Cc dominique, Sissy3 Lasticlalala Seun Ishilove ...

a nice disguise to loot and lunder Nigerian money.

54-GENE and their groundbreaking activity was covered by BBC and CNN News last year. You can find the link below and read about their exploits and goals. They are hoping to follow the path of giants like Google, TESLA, etc.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-africa-50205190

bigiyaro:
a nice disguise to loot and lunder Nigerian money.

Do you know the history of this biotech start-up company? It’s not being run by government. It was founded by a young Nigerian who returned to the country(just like the founders of tech start-ups like Andela) after his Ph.D abroad to focus on genomics research in Africa. It’s the first ever on the continent. I originally read about them last year.

See the report BBC and CNN made on them last year
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-africa-50205190


Mind you, they are not using government’a funding here. They are raising it on their own through partners and associates to fund testing capacity in the country. It has nothing to do with public funds here. It is similar to what Google and TESLA are trying to do here in the United States.

bigiyaro:
a nice disguise to loot and lunder Nigerian money.

Is that all you could come up with? This is the mentality that has been keeping Africa backward. Your minds are all about looting. If you don't loot directly from the national treasury, you indirectly do so through scamming, stealing, robbery, kidnapping, 419, money laundering, Yahoo Yahoo, faking of products, and inflating price of goods at the slightest opportunity.

We should be working on how to get the vaccine and not protection kits

I'm not impressed .

ChybuzzDD:


Is that all you could come up with? This is the mentality that has been keeping Africa backward. Your minds are all about looting. If you don't loot directly from the national treasury, you indirectly do so through scamming, stealing, robbery, kidnapping, 419, money laundering, Yahoo Yahoo, faking of products, and inflating price of goods at the slightest opportunity.

yeah, that was what we tot, until fraudsters like invictus obi who were masquerading as entrepreneurs were exposed. They are many ways black men Africans use in stealing from their countries and this kind of fake start ups is one of them.

bigiyaro:
yeah, that was what we tot, until fraudsters like invictus obi who were masquerading as entrepreneurs were exposed. They are many ways black men Africans use in stealing from their countries and this kind of fake start ups is one of them.

GENE-54 is a fake start-up? Dude, go and make your research about them and its founder. The guy has a Ph.D in the genomics stuff he is doing. This kind of start-up is not for dunderheads - this is not real estate investment, car dealership, shipping and other investments crooks can easy channel funds to. A biotech start-up can only be founded by a scientist that knows his or her onions. Read about the Founder and his ground breaking research experience in the United Kingdom and North America.

Cc dominique, Sissy3 Lasticlalala Seun Ishilove .

Crispels:


GENE-54 is a fake start-up? Dude, go and make your research about them and its founder. The guy has a Ph.D in the genomics stuff he is doing. This kind of start-up is not for dunderheads - this is not real estate investment, car dealership, shipping and other investments crooks can easy channel funds to. A biotech start-up can only be founded by a scientist that knows his or her onions. Read about the Founder and his ground breaking research experience in the United Kingdom and North America.

don't get me wrong, I didn't say this particular startup is a fake one, I just said some especially in times like these can be used for stealing.

bigiyaro:
a nice disguise to loot and lunder Nigerian money.

Always in d Negative, Change ur Mindset. There are still good People and good Businesses...

Nice

Crispels:


GENE-54 is a fake start-up? Dude, go and make your research about them and its founder. The guy has a Ph.D in the genomics stuff he is doing. This kind of start-up is not for dunderheads - this is not real estate investment, car dealership, shipping and other investments crooks can easy channel funds to. A biotech start-up can only be founded by a scientist that knows his or her onions. Read about the Founder and his ground breaking research experience in the United Kingdom and North America.

Beautiful how do I volunteer

fof1:



Always in d Negative, Change ur Mindset. There are still good People and good Businesses...

not always so.

Good one.

The news is too long and look like an advert, maybe that is why is not yet on front page. Maybe mode may consider it front page worthy to support start ups.

NaijaRoyalty:
We should be working on how to get the vaccine and not protection kits

I'm not impressed .

What are you working on?