Nigerian student, Sandra Musujusu, develops cure for breast cancer

A female student of the African University of Science and
Technology, Abuja, Sandra Musujusu, has developed an alternative treatment for
breast cancer.

The scientific breakthrough might lead to a lasting solution
in the treatment of breast cancer prevalent among women world over.

This was made known on Tuesday in Abuja when the World Bank
Education Director, Dr Jaime Saavedra Chanduvi with his team visited the
University as part of his assessment tour of the 10 African Centres of Excellence
(ACE) centres.

The World Bank has committed about $10 billion for the ACE
project in Nigeria, as part of efforts to encourage conduct of cutting-edge
research and specialisation of the beneficiaries’ institutions in specific
development problems faced in Nigeria and indeed the African continent.

AUST is hosting one of the Centres of Excellence, known as
Pan African Material Institute (PAMI), with research focus electrical power,
disease detection and treatment, Tribune Online reported.

Musujusu’s research, using macromolecular science is aimed
at developing bio-degradable polymer material which could be used as
alternative for the treatment of breast cancer in the near future.

She revealed that her research focuses on triple negative
breast cancer which is the aggressive sub-type of breast cancer that is common
with women from African ancestry.

Musujusu, a Sierra-Leonian national is conducting the
research under the sponsorship of the Pan African Materials Institute (PAMI).

Out of 19 African Centres of Excellence, 10 Nigerian
tertiary institutions won slots to churn out special research works that could
compete effectively with global standards.

The ACE universities include Redeemers University, Mowe;
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Jos, Jos; University of Benin and
African University of Science and Technology, Abuja.

Others are University of Port-Harcourt; Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile Ife; Bayero University, Kano; Benue State University, Makurdi;
and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

It would be recalled that when the Ebola Virus Disease broke
out in Nigeria in the year 2014, one of the ACE centres, Redeemers University
served as the testing site before it was brought under control.

Musujusu said, “My research is actually centred on the
development of bio-degradable polymers for treatment of breast cancer.”

“I will be focusing on triple negative breast cancer which
is actually the aggressive sub-type of breast cancer that is common with women
from African ancestry.”

“I believe there is a bright future for Africa, and as a
woman there is much more we can do if we are empowered. This award given to me
by PAMI has empowered me to face my studies with more confidence and actually
contribute to the frontier of knowledge and move Africa