Prof Christian Happi of the Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun, has been ranked among the 100 world’s most influential people by the Time Magazine annual ranking.
This was contained in a statement by Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs of the university, Mr Adetunji Adeleye, on Thursday in Osogbo.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Happi is a professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics of Infectious Diseases.
The statement said that Happi was ranked alongside global leaders, scientists, artists, and changemakers who were shaping the world’s future
According to the statement, Happi is ranked alongside Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Serena Williams, J.D. Vance, Muhammad Yunus, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Duma Boko, among others.
The statement said that Happi, the founding Director of the Institute of Genomics and Global Health in the university, had led pioneering work in infectious disease genomics innovations for real-time outbreak response in Africa for over a decade.
It said in 2014, he confirmed the first case of Ebola in Nigeria and worked closely with Nigerian health authorities to successfully contain the outbreak.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, he used next-generation sequencing technology to perform the first sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Africa within 48 hours of receiving the sample.
“His work has saved lives, informed global public health strategies, and contributed to developing diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, among others,” it read.
In his remarks, Happi said that the recognition was a personal milestone and moment of pride for the university and Nigeria as a whole.
“This TIME100 recognition is a personal milestone and a moment of pride for IGH, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Nigeria, and academic and research institutions across the African continent.
“It shines a global spotlight on African scientists and institutions’ vital role in addressing some of the world’s most urgent health challenges,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Shadrach Akindele, congratulated Happi on the achievement.
Akindele said that the recognition was not just a reward but an indicator that his work ghad ained global acceptance.
NAN
