Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has been awarded a €5 million grant by the European Union’s Horizon Europe EDCTP3 programme to develop an AI-powered microscope for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases, including malaria, leishmaniasis, and African trypanosomiasis.
The project—titled MultiplexAI—aims to improve early detection of neglected tropical diseases in underserved African communities using artificial intelligence and mobile-based tools. It is being led by Dr. Gloria Dada Chechet, a renowned molecular parasitologist in the university’s Department of Biochemistry and the Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology.
ABU’s proposal was one of only four selected from 240 submissions and marks the university’s first successful digital health initiative funded under the Horizon Europe framework.
“This is a historic moment for ABU and for Nigerian science,” the university stated. “MultiplexAI represents a leap in diagnostic capabilities for rural Africa.”
The innovation is expected to transform diagnostics across the continent, especially in areas with limited access to laboratory facilities, reinforcing Nigeria’s growing influence in global digital health research.
