School of Infection & Immunity

Professor Yakubu Ibrahim

Title: Towards the control of the spread and endemicity of trypanosomiasis and some Helminth NTDs - a shared experience

Synopsis: Effective control and management of NTDs and its impact requires understanding of their epidemiological status and evaluation of intervention strategies. This paper presents reports of studies carried out on three parasitic NTDs (lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis and trypanosomiasis) in Nigeria and The Gambia. It starts with presentation on the incidence and molecular characterisation of trypanosome species in ruminant animals in The Gambia, followed by studies on the exploration, characterization and potential application of antitrypanosomal drug candidates that targeted enzymes of the trypanosome parasite namely, trypanothione reductase, RNA Polymerase I and Lysosomal α-D-mannosidase. It further reports on the linkage of wolbachia infected anthropophilic mosquitoes in transmission of lymphatic nematodes. Two studies on schistosomiasisis - one each in the Gambia and Nigeria, were also highlighted. The study in Nigeria among others, evaluated the association between urinary/tissue schistosomiasis and bladder cancer occurrence, as well as incidence of gene mutation among the causative pathogens of schistosomiasis.  

Bio: A Professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Yakubu K.E. Ibrahim obtained his BSc Pharmacy and MSc Pharmaceutics degrees in 1980 and 1985 respectively from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria and Dr. sc. hum degree from University of Heidelberg, Germany in 1993. He was appointed as a Graduate Assistant in Ahmadu Bello University in 1982 and rose to the rank of Professor in 2004. He has graduated 45 MSc and 20 PhD students, published over 110 journal articles and has 3 patents to his credit. His research work has largely been in nosocomial infection, antimicrobial agents and molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases. He is a recipient of Vice Chancellor Award at the 50th Anniversary of Ahmadu Bello University in 2013 and Overall Grant Fellow Award of the University in 2024. Over the years, he has held several administrative responsibilities in the University, at State and Federal levels - Departmental Headship, Directorship, Boards of Governing Councils, Board of Trustees, etc.). He is currently the Centre Leader of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, a position he has been occupying since 2017.  

First published: 21 September 2026

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