A distinguished Professor of Theoretical Physics, Dele Abajingin, has called on governments and stakeholders to prioritise investments in research and innovations that explore alternative remedies for Nigeria’s deadliest disease: malaria.
He argued that traditional methods of preventing and curing malaria have failed to solve the problem. Instead, they have led to the disease remaining endemic, with parasites becoming resistant to drugs, while the burden of anaemia and haematological complications persists.
Prof. Abajingin of the Department of Physics and Electronics stated this on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, while delivering the 51st Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State.
The lecture was titled, ‘A Low-Value Alternating Electromagnetic Field for Malaria Therapy: A New Dance Step to the Same Old Drummer’.
The physicist noted that malaria remains the leading cause of over one million deaths globally, particularly in children, with over 300 million acute cases reported yearly.
He revealed that aside from common symptoms such as high fever, chills, and headaches, the disease could result in complications like fatal anaemia, organ and cerebral damage, and, if untreated, death.
Highlighting the transmission process, the Don explained that a mosquito bite injects a parasite (Plasmodium) which, once released into the bloodstream, attacks the red blood cells (haemoglobin) by breaking them down into hemes and globin.
He added that this process results in the digestion of the hemes into haemozoin, creating a less toxic environment that aids the survival of the malaria parasite.
Prof. Abajingin stated that his study on the use of electromagnetic fields to reverse haemozoin to hemes through exposure to an oscillating magnetic field (OMF) using a Helmholtz coil revealed a reduction in parasitic density and an increase in red blood cell volume.
These outcomes, he said, signify the effectiveness of this approach in treating malaria.
“In malaria therapy, the focus has always been on creating an environment where the haemozoin becomes toxic to the malaria parasites. This can only be achieved if the haemozoin is broken down into hemes.
The results from these studies have shown that an Oscillating Magnetic Field can be used for this purpose.
“The product of this study, as we project its future usage, is seen in the form of a well-designed, unisex corporate electronic suit, which shall be named the ‘HELMHOLTZ JACKET’,” he said.
Prof. Abajingin explained that though there are existing preventive measures for transmission, such as nets and insecticides, and pharmaceutical drugs for treatment, the adulteration of these drugs has resulted in high levels of drug resistance in malaria parasites.
This has rendered them less effective, hence the dire need for a low-value alternating electromagnetic field therapy for malaria.
He recommended, “Nigeria must invest in research and innovation that move beyond the ‘one-size-fits-all’ drug model.
The development of adjunctive therapies such as OMF requires infrastructure: research labs, biomedical engineering collaborations, regulatory frameworks, and translation pipelines from bench to field.”
Stressing the crucial role of young people in the national response to malaria, Prof. Abajingin further urged universities to establish departments of Applied Electronics to produce graduates equipped with the knowledge to invent and operate electronics-based devices
According to him, “Nigeria's young scientists, technologists, biomedical engineers, health-system innovators, biophysicists, electrical engineers, and public health workers should be encouraged and empowered to explore such interdisciplinary frontiers. In doing so, the university and research institutions become engines of national innovation rather than mere consumers of imported technologies.”
Earlier, while presenting the inaugural lecturer, the Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the ceremony, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, defined the institution’s inaugural lectures as platforms for professors to present the significant contributions of a lifetime of study to the global pool of knowledge.
He also commended Prof. Abajingin for his unwavering commitment to academic excellence and for upholding the legacy of the university.
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