By Kenneth Ehigiator

No fewer than 116 applicants from 26 African countries, including Nigeria, have applied for recognition as research Centre of Excellence, CoE, by African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation, ANDI.

This came against the backdrop that preliminary data analysis indicated that there existed strong capacity within the CoE network, with annual budgets ranging from $100 to $150 million. This was contained in the resolution arrived at the 3rd ANDI meeting which held in Nairobi, Kenya.

At the conference, leader of Special Programmes for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases at the World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr. Solomon Nwaka, praised the number and quality of responses received during the call for CoE.

He said accreditation would run from January to March 2011, followed by ANDI board approval in May, and official announcements of accredited CoEs in June 2011.