In this interview, Delta State born Billionaire, astute politician and a renowned philanthropist Ned Nwoko opened up on his quest to eradicating malaria scourge from Africa.
Recall that Ned Nwoko in late 2019, embarked on a malaria campaign to ANTARCTICA making him the first Nigerian to have visited that continent, thereby making the presence of Nigeria known there, in the ice cold continent.
He bore his mind on his total commitment to eradicating TOTALLY the KILLER disease (malaria) NOT only from Nigeria in particular BUT also the generality of the AFRICAN continent would be free from malaria at the end of the quest. To him, it’s a fight that MUST be WON.
Excerpts:
INTERVIEWER : Please tell your experience in ANTARCTICA in your campaign against malaria?
NED NWOKO : Thank you very much. My trip to Antarctica became very important simply because, I have gotten in touch with some scientists who directed that we meet there, as a matter of fact, ANTARCTICA is not habited by anybody per say. But there are TWELVE COUNTRIES that has research bases there; America, UK, GERMANY, SOUTH AFRICA.( from Africa ) etc, TWELVE of them are the signatories to the 1971 treaty, that has made it as a research base for these countries , so there is alot happening there, alot of research work, the total number of scientists put together is about 5,000, but no Nigerian there, I can tell you that. We should be there, we should identify with the treaty and take our position, and those countries, they’ll be leading the world in next century and we’re behind. But my concern primarily has to do with vaccine for malaria. Malaria is the biggest KILLER in Africa, almost 500,000 people lose their lives every year, annually, according to World Health Organization ( W.H.O ) statistics, it kills more than the other ailments put together. So you begin to wonder, why is it that, government across board, individual, groups have not considered it be important to look for solution, a permanent solution. It is not something that, like most, talk about tents, nets or having some drugs. Look, the drugs that most of us take for malaria might be effective temporarily but they cause more permanent harm to the body organs more than anything else. I myself, I suffer from malaria practically every month, I know the effect of it and I also many people don’t go to work every day or every month because of malaria. So, we loose alot of lives, we loose alot of man power. So, it is a problem for Africa, Africa must find solution for malaria. Malaria is not a white man’s problem as you know. If were the problem of America or the UK, i’m sure they would have found a result, they would have found a vaccine. What is happening is that, most of the drugs manufacturing companies are either in America or the UK, and they are protecting their industries as well.
INTERVIEWER : So Sir, with this your movement to Antarctica as an African, trying to pave way for Nigeria, is there hope for Nigeria?
NED NWOKO: (Cuts in) If there is no hope, I won’t be doing it, I don’t waste my time.
INTERVIEWER : So Sir, how enormous is the task ahead in terms of financial implications?
NED NWOKO : Every task is enormous, what is enormous to me might not be to Nigeria as a Country or some other individuals, what is enormous to you might not be to me. It’s something we can handle. I’m doing what i’m doing now, and i’m sure that with time, others will join in the crusade.
INTERVIEWER : You said something at the beginning of your interview that Antarctica is not a place that is inhabited by anybody, so the question I want to ask is, how feasible is the specimen they want to use to run this test to be able to see how they can get a vaccine, given the fact that every specimen you want to use to get a vaccine must have life and then the duration, the lifespan of this place has put into consideration, so how do you reconcile this two things?
NED NWOKO : Researches are done there, it doesn’t mean that the test must be done there. The problem is not ANTARCTICA, the problem is in Africa and some parts of Asia, some parts of south America. Yes, they will do the work they’re doing there. But in terms of clinical analysis and clearance, that should be done where the problems are.
Let me tell you, apart from the research, which is going to be conducted across Africa, at least, through five universities, we are also looking at how to clean up Nigeria and the clean up Nigeria involves sanitation and fumigation and this is where the public will participate, everybody must be involved. You might not be involved in the researches to be done in the laboratory or funds but when it comes to clean up Nigeria everybody must be involved. Who knows how mosquitoes breeds, arguably it’s from dirty environment, we have a very dirty environment everywhere across the country. So, when the time comes, everybody must be ready to clean up Nigeria, it’s going to involve alot.
INTERVIEWER : Sir, is it a promise for this 2020?
NED NWOKO : Time is not something that I can tell you, we are starting now, the year is just quite early but before the end of the year, alot will be achieved. But at least, in the production of the malaria vaccine, three years should be enough to get a vaccine, clinically tested and approved by all relevant authorities within and outside Nigeria, but in terms of clean up Nigeria, we must do that this year.
INTERVIEWER : Sir, apart from you that has taken it upon yourself to eradicating malaria from Africa, is any other country that has identified with you to fighting this cause ?
NED NWOKO : YES; South Africa has, Burkina Faso has, Ghana has, and we are going to tour all the countries and we’re doing alot, in terms of educating, they also suffer from malaria, malaria is not something that is exclusive to Nigeria.
INTERVIEWER : Sir, before you go, do you have any partnership with the federal government, the ministry of Health with regards to this move that you have embarked on?
NED NWOKO : Yes, we’re working with the federal government, few days ago the I.G of police said they’ll partner with us last month, the Military also visited me to say that they want to partner with us, ministry of Health, ministry of Environment and ministry of information. It is not something that my foundation can handle alone, we need government support, we need the governors to support us, we need the Local Government chairmen to work with us, and of course the people must also work us.
INTERVIEWER : Thank you very much for your time sir.
NED NWOKO : You’re welcome.