Christian Happi, infectious disease gene expert, named among 100 most influential in 2025

Christian Happi, a distinguished professor of molecular biology and genomics of infectious diseases at Redeemer’s University, has been named on the 2025 TIME100 list, TIME magazine’s annual ranking of the world’s most influential people.

He was selected for the Hallmarks Of Labour Foundation (HLF) Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Science, joining distinguished HLF role models like Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, among others.

Happi, also the founding director of the Institute of Genomics and Global Health (IGH), was among the 2025 TIME100 list that included Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Serena Williams, J.D. Vance, Muhammad Yunus, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Duma Boko, Mo Abudu, Simone Biles, Mark Zuckerberg, Snoop Dogg, Kwame Onwuachi and others.

Professor Happi has led pioneering work in infectious disease genomics and real-time outbreak response in Africa to COVID-19, Mpox, and Ebola, training thousands of frontline scientists from across Africa and creating a world-class genome centre in rural Nigeria for over a decade.

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In 2014, he confirmed the first case of Ebola in Nigeria and worked closely with national health authorities to successfully contain the outbreak.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he used next-generation sequencing technology to perform the first sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Africa within 48 hours of receiving the sample.

His work has saved lives, informed global public health strategies and contributed to developing diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

A release from the university said, “His work has saved lives, informed global public health strategies, and contributed to developing diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, among others.”

In his remarks, Happi said that the recognition was a personal milestone and moment of pride for the university and Nigeria as a whole.

“This TIME100 recognition is a personal milestone and a moment of pride for IGH, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Nigeria, and academic and research institutions across the African continent.

“It shines a global spotlight on African scientists and institutions’ vital role in addressing some of the world’s most urgent health challenges,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Shadrach Akindele, said that the recognition was not just a reward but an indicator that his work had gained global acceptance.