Breaking: Nigeria, 5 Other African Countries to Produce COVID-19 VaccineYour support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that six African countries would be the first on the continent to receive the technology needed to produce their own COVID-19 vaccines. Legit.ng gathered that the director-general of the health organisation, Tedros Ghebreyesus, announced this on Friday, February 18, at the European Union - African Union summit in Brussels. In a statement made available on its website, WHO said Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia have been selected as the first recipients of technology from its global mRNA vaccine hub. Recommended for you Supreme Court vs FG: Strike looms as NLC issues fresh ultimatum to Buhari o... The mRNA is the advanced technology used by companies such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for their COVID-19 shots. PAY ATTENTION: Subscribe to Digital Talk newsletter to receive must-know business stories and succeed BIG! According to Ghebreyesus, they were selected from the organisation’s global mRNA vaccine hub, in a push to ensure the African continent can make its own jabs to fight COVID and other diseases. Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Ghebreyesus, the head of WHO shared his thoughts on what world leaders must do if they wish to see the end of the coronavirus pandemic. Ghebreyesus advised world leaders to shun what he described as the “politics of populism and self-interest”. The WHO DG assured that the global body would continue to support countries towards building strong health systems. Recommended for you Africa pays the price as China and Russia muscle in Meanwhile in furtherance to efforts channelled towards the eradication of the COVID-19 virus and its antecedent pandemic, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Wellcome has pledged $300 million ($150 million each) to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). A statement which was seen by Legit.ng said the donation, is aimed at financing COVID-19 pandemic response and accelerating epidemic preparedness across the globe. The foundation while calling on world leaders to support CEPI to help end the COVID-19 crisis said it is important that preparations are made for future pandemics, and address epidemic threats in the world. Source: Legit.ng No fewer than six African countries would be the first on the continent to receive the technology needed to produce COVID-19 vaccine Tedros Ghebreyesus, the director-general of World Health Organisation made the announcement on Friday, February 18 According to the health organisation, the African countries include Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia Your support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. Legit.ng Subscribe to Digital Talk newsletter to receive must-know business stories and succeed BIG! Legit.ng Legit.ng