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Promoting the genomic revolution in Africa through the Nigerian 100K Genome Project

Nature Genetics volume 54, pages 531–536 (2022)Cite this article

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To leverage the genetic diversity in Nigeria, we established the Non-Communicable Diseases Genetic Heritage Study (NCD-GHS) consortium to help produce a comprehensive catalog of human genetic variation in Nigeria and assess the burden and etiological characteristics of non-communicable diseases in 100,000 adults in Nigeria.

Africans have the most diverse genomes of all human populations1. However, only limited genomics data from Africans are currently available to inform the development of disease prevention strategies, early detection tools and treatment options for people with non-communicable diseases (NCDs)2. For example, as of January 2019, only about 3% of genomic data being used for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) came from people of African descent3 and this proportion dropped to 1.1% in 20214. Similarly only 1.57% of the genotype data of 487,000 individuals in the UK Biobank resource was from persons of African descent5. Clearly, the UK Biobank was never designed to explicitly represent people of African ancestry but nevertheless, the current portfolio of global biobanks probably limits our understanding of their contributions to complex diseases. Yet, more and more efforts are providing key insights into African genomes and allelic sharing with adjacent populations. For example, in a recent survey of Qatar genomes6, evidence of allele sharing with African populations was reported.

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Fig. 1: The NCD-GHS consortium strategic vision 2020–2025.
Fig. 2: Mapping of NCD-GHS sample collection sites across both studies.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the members of NCD-GHS Scientific Advisory Board Members: A. Adeyemo, F. I. Olopade, M. Nyirenda, N. Mulder, M. Owolabi and D. Nitsch and members of the NCD-GHS Steering Committee: A. Adenipekun, A. Banjo and S. Saidu. Funding for this study was provided by the ACTG with support from 54gene Inc.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NCD-GHS Consortium, African Center for Translational Genomics (ACTG), Ikate, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria

    Segun Fatumo, Aminu Yakubu, Abdullahi Musa, Abdulrasheed M. Mujtaba, Abiodun Popoola, Abubakar M. Bello, Anthony Anyanwu, Ashiru Yusuf, Gesiye EL Bozimo, Goddy Bassey, Hadiza Bala, Istifanus Bala Bosan, Jemimah Edah, Mutiu Alani Jimoh, Kenneth Nwankwo, Olalekan Ojo, Marcus Inyama, Maryam Apanpa, Mohammed Mustapha, Musa Ali-Gombe, Olubukola Ojo, Oludare Adeyemi, Samuel Ajayi, Sanusi Bala, Temitope Ojo, Usman Malami Aliyu, Yemi Raji, Zainab Tanko, Amina Mohammed, David Oladele, Muhammed Hamzat, Emmanuel Agaba, Emeka Nwankwo, Ifeoma Ulasi, Jonah Musa, Umeora Odidika, Omolola Salako, Oyekanmi Nashiru, Babatunde L Salako, Colm O’Dushlaine & Abasi Ene-Obong

  2. The African Computational Genomics (TACG) Research Group, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM, Entebbe, Uganda

    Segun Fatumo

  3. The Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

    Segun Fatumo

  4. 54gene Inc., Washington, DC, USA

    Aminu Yakubu, Olubukunola Oyedele, Jumi Popoola, Delali Attiogbe Attipoe, Golibe Eze-Echesi, Fatima Z Modibbo, Nabila Ado-Wanka, Yemisi Osakwe, Onome Braimah, Eramoh Julius-Enigimi, Terver Mark Akindigh, Bolutife Kusimo, Chinenye Akpulu, Chiamaka Nwuba, Ofonime Ebong, Chinyere Anyika, Oluwatimilehin Adewunmi, Yusuf Ibrahim, Janet Kashimawo, Ogochukwu Francis Osifo, Chidi Nkwocha, Peter Iyitor, Temi Abiwon, Adeola Adeleye, Abayomi Ode, Anjola Ayo-Lawal, Kasiena Akpabio, Emame Edu, Chiemela Njoku, Bari Ballew, Cameron Palmer, Colm O’Dushlaine & Abasi Ene-Obong

  5. Department of Radiation Biology, Radiotherapy and Radiodiagnosis, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

    Omolola Salako

  6. Centre for Genomics Research and Innovation, National Biotechnology Development Agency NABDA, Abuja, Nigeria

    Oyekanmi Nashiru

  7. The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos, Nigeria

    Babatunde L Salako

Authors
  1. Segun Fatumo
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  2. Aminu Yakubu
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  3. Olubukunola Oyedele
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  4. Jumi Popoola
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  5. Delali Attiogbe Attipoe
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  7. Fatima Z Modibbo
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  8. Nabila Ado-Wanka
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  10. Oyekanmi Nashiru
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  13. Abasi Ene-Obong
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Consortia

54gene Team

  • Yemisi Osakwe
  • , Onome Braimah
  • , Eramoh Julius-Enigimi
  • , Terver Mark Akindigh
  • , Bolutife Kusimo
  • , Chinenye Akpulu
  • , Chiamaka Nwuba
  • , Ofonime Ebong
  • , Chinyere Anyika
  • , Oluwatimilehin Adewunmi
  • , Yusuf Ibrahim
  • , Janet Kashimawo
  • , Ogochukwu Francis Osifo
  • , Chidi Nkwocha
  • , Peter Iyitor
  • , Temi Abiwon
  • , Adeola Adeleye
  • , Abayomi Ode
  • , Anjola Ayo-Lawal
  • , Kasiena Akpabio
  • , Emame Edu
  • , Chiemela Njoku
  • , Bari Ballew
  •  & Cameron Palmer

NCD-GHS Consortium

  • Abdullahi Musa
  • , Abdulrasheed M. Mujtaba
  • , Abiodun Popoola
  • , Abubakar M. Bello
  • , Anthony Anyanwu
  • , Ashiru Yusuf
  • , Gesiye EL Bozimo
  • , Goddy Bassey
  • , Hadiza Bala
  • , Istifanus Bala Bosan
  • , Jemimah Edah
  • , Mutiu Alani Jimoh
  • , Kenneth Nwankwo
  • , Olalekan Ojo
  • , Marcus Inyama
  • , Maryam Apanpa
  • , Mohammed Mustapha
  • , Musa Ali-Gombe
  • , Olubukola Ojo
  • , Oludare Adeyemi
  • , Samuel Ajayi
  • , Sanusi Bala
  • , Temitope Ojo
  • , Usman Malami Aliyu
  • , Yemi Raji
  • , Zainab Tanko
  • , Amina Mohammed
  • , David Oladele
  • , Muhammed Hamzat
  • , Emmanuel Agaba
  • , Emeka Nwankwo
  • , Ifeoma Ulasi
  • , Jonah Musa
  •  & Umeora Odidika

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Segun Fatumo or Abasi Ene-Obong.

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Competing interests

S.F., O.S., O.N. and B.L.S. received consultancy fees from 54gene Nigeria Ltd. A.Y., O.O., J.P., D.A., G.E., F.Z.M., N.A., C.O. and A.E. are current employees of 54gene Inc.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Table 1

Supplementary Table 1- Case definition / diagnostic criteria for selected (s) non-communicable diseases (NCDs) recruited

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Fatumo, S., Yakubu, A., Oyedele, O. et al. Promoting the genomic revolution in Africa through the Nigerian 100K Genome Project. Nat Genet 54, 531–536 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01071-6

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