A German multinational manufacturer of sample and assay technologies, Qiagen and its representative in Nigeria, Turner Wright Biosciences Limited have donated extraction kits worth millions of Naira to NIMR.
The two partner companies had earlier, in March 2025, donated an EZ1 Advanced XL equipment, an equipment that automates the extraction of nucleic acid from diverse sample types to ensure reliable and high-quality molecular test results.
Presenting the test kits to the DG, NIMR, Prof. Oladapo Obafunwa on June 10, Dr Tunde Lawal , the Managing Director of Turner Wright Biosciences Limited said the donation was the companies’ way of giving back to the country and NIMR, in particular, which is at the forefront of cutting-edge research for the country. This, he said, remains the ideal way to offer as much support as possible.
On his part, Dr, Olusola Ogunbowale, Qiagen’s Manager of Public Health and Global Exports, highlighted the struggles of scientists in accessing extraction kits and automated instruments, due to their high costs, customs duty, and flight fares. According to him, a pack of the kit is worth about N2.5 million, without customs duties and the logistics to deliver it. He wondered how many scientists would be able to afford it.
Dr. Lawal however said Turner Wright Biosciences Limited would, in such instances, often come to the aid of the scientists who are interested in research by delivering research consumables to their doorsteps.
Receiving the kits, Prof. Obafunwa, DG, NIMR, expressed gratitude to the companies for their kind and thoughtful gesture towards the institute and assured that both the equipment and kits would be maximally utilized to further research.
Turner Wright Biosciences Limited is a leading supplier and manufacturers’ representative of bio-instruments, molecular biology reagents, diagnostics, laboratory wares and laboratory consumables, as well as research materials