Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has received a €5 million grant from the European Union under the Horizon Europe EDCTP3 programme for the development of an artificial intelligence-powered microscope to aid the diagnosis of parasitic diseases.
The university, in a statement published on its website on Monday, disclosed that the initiative, tagged “MultiplexAI,” will focus on enhancing early detection of diseases such as malaria, African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and filariasis, particularly in rural and underserved communities across Africa.
According to the statement, ABU’s proposal was one of only four selected from a pool of 240 entries under the Horizon Europe theme, “Innovative Digital Health Solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa.” This milestone marks the first time ABU will be hosting a digital health project supported by the EU’s Horizon Europe framework.
The project is being led by Dr. Gloria Dada Chechet, a Reader in the Department of Biochemistry and a renowned molecular parasitologist, under the auspices of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB).
The university explained that the AI-based diagnostic tool will be built to function with just a microscope, smartphone, and a dedicated app, empowering frontline health workers to detect multiple infections without relying on centralized laboratories.
The tool is expected to transform healthcare delivery in remote locations where conventional diagnostic services are limited or inaccessible. ABU emphasized that the innovation aligns with Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and could play a key role in improving public health outcomes in the country and beyond.
Describing the achievement as a “new benchmark for digital health innovation on the continent,” ABU stated that the MultiplexAI project enhances its global academic visibility and positions it as a leader in AI-driven health research in Africa.
With the support of the EU and the scientific expertise of Dr. Chechet, the institution said it is poised to contribute significantly to the global fight against neglected tropical diseases using affordable and scalable technology.