The Nigerian government has made funds available for the local production of vaccines. But is it enough to kickstart a moribund industry? Daniel Oladimeji Oluwayelu argues that this is unlikely as he unpacks the history of drug production in Nigeria and the substantial gaps the country would need to fill before any meaningful production could start.

As the FIFA Football World Cup in Qatar in 2022 draws near, 40 African nations are battling for a spot in the final rounds. Some of the favourites include Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon, Egypt and Morocco – given their large contingent of professionals in top European leagues. But will an African nation ever win the coveted cup? It’s a question that Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu answers by looking back at the continent’s past achievements and disappointments in the tournament.

Interest in ivermectin, a highly effective drug primarily used to kill parasites in animals, has gone through the roof across the world following laboratory evidence that it has an active ingredient that acts against the COVID-19 virus. To sort out fact from fiction, Vinny Naidoo, Dean of the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, sets out the background to the drug, what the excitement is about and why a great deal of caution is required. Listen to his fascinating account here.

Wale Fatade

Commissioning Editor: Nigeria

Nigeria can resuscitate its vaccine production laboratory with money recently released by its government for local production of COVID-19 vaccine. Leon Neal/Getty Images

What it will take to produce vaccines in Nigeria: money’s just the first step

Daniel Oladimeji Oluwayelu, University of Ibadan

Giving money to support local production of COVID-19 vaccines is a step in the right direction if it will help in resuscitating Nigeria's vaccine production laboratory.

Cameroon’s Roger Milla held aloft at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. RENARD eric/Corbis via Getty Images

Africa at the Football World Cup: 10 defining moments

Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, University of Texas at Tyler

Will an African nation ever win the Football World Cup? Key moments in past tournaments offer hope -- and a warning that the continent needs to invest in the game.

Health + Medicine

Pasha 97: Everything you need to know about ivermectin

Ozayr Patel, The Conversation

What’s all the excitement around ivermectin? Can it actually help treat COVID-19 patients?

How changing blood pressure targets in South Africa could save costs and lives

Nikkil Sudharsanan, University of Heidelberg; Justine Ina Davies, University of Birmingham

Current blood pressure targets are based on information from high-income countries. This might mean that these targets are not ideal for South Africans.

Politics

From our international editions

Coronavirus school closures: what’s the evidence?

Andrew Lee, University of Sheffield; Sunil Bhopal, Newcastle University

It is a false dichotomy to judge schools as either 'safe' or 'unsafe'. The reality is more complicated.

Amanda Gorman’s poetry shows why spoken word belongs in school

Kathleen M. Alley, Mississippi State University; Mukoma Wa Ngugi, Cornell University; Wendy R. Williams, Arizona State University

The rise in the popularity of Amanda Gorman, the nation's first National Youth Poet Laureate, represents a prime opportunity for educators to use spoken word poetry in the classroom.

Criminal justice needs a better understanding of childhood trauma

Gina Wong, Athabasca University

The execution of Lisa Montgomery in the U.S. earlier this year demonstrates how society misunderstands the effects of mental illness and trauma on criminal behaviour.

Wall Street isn’t just a casino where traders can bet on GameStop and other stocks – it’s essential to keeping capitalism from crashing

Alexander Kurov, West Virginia University

Market prices are supposed to reflect a company's fundamental value. When they no longer do, bad things can happen.

En Français

Le Mali peut-il se passer de l’opération Barkhane ?

Boubacar Haidara, Université Bordeaux Montaigne

Mettre fin à l’opération Barkhane ne résoudra pas les problèmes sécuritaires du Mali. L’armée française est évidemment vouée à quitter le pays un jour, mais sa présence est pour l’instant nécessaire.

Droits TV du foot français, retour sur une débâcle

Julien Pillot, INSEEC Grande École

Depuis la faillite de la structure Mediapro, fin 2020, les droits de retransmission du championnat de France ne trouvent pas preneurs. Le signe d’une bulle économique qui éclate ?

 
 

Contact us here to have your event listed.

 
 

Would you like to republish any of these articles?

It’s free to republish, here are the guidelines. Contact us on africa-republish@theconversation.com in case you need assistance.