During the delivery of his inaugural lecture, Prof Martin Nyaga, Head of the University of the Free State (UFS) Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Unit, not only gave a comprehensive and inspiring account of his pioneering work in pathogen genomics but also delved into the profound impact of the work on public health in Africa. 

The lecture, titled Genomic Sentinels: Charting the Evolution of Enteric and Respiratory Viral Threats for African Health Security transitions to the broader impact and application of his work, demonstrating how his research directly translates into actionable public health directives, citing his contributions to technical ministerial reports on COVID-19 variants in South Africa and Vibrio cholerae variants in Malawi.  

Prof Nyaga’s children Dylan and Latoya Nyaga attended the lecture, while his parents Jane and Cyrus Nyaga, and siblings Mike, Lena and Casam Nyaga, joined virtually. Other guests in the audience included Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, Head of the African Medicines Innovations and Technologies Development Platform at the UFS, Dr Glen Taylor, Senior Director of the Directorate for Research Development, as well as colleagues, postdoctoral fellows and postgraduate students. 

Early in the lecture (on 8 September 2025) Prof Nyaga, who is affiliated to the School of Biomedical Sciences as well as the Division of Virology within the Faculty of Health Sciences, set the stage by acknowledging the significance of the occasion and immersed the audience in the persistent and evolving challenges of global viral threats. He articulated the critical need for sophisticated tools to combat these evolving pathogens, establishing genomic science as a cornerstone of modern public health.

Pivotal role during the COVID-19

The core of the lecture delved into his research contributions, showcasing his expertise in unravelling viral dynamics, detailing his work on enteric viruses, particularly rotaviruses. Through the Gates Foundation-funded African Enteric Viruses Genome Initiative and its successor, the Sequencing and Antigenic Cartography of Enteric Viruses, Prof Nyaga has meticulously tracked rotavirus evolution pre- and post-vaccine introduction across several African countries. He presented compelling examples of how genomics revealed significant reassortment events, directly informing strategies to monitor vaccine efficacy in high-mortality settings. He also touched base on his pioneering metagenomics research into gut and respiratory virome, uncovering their roles in child health and potential links to metabolic disorders, a critical area for understanding long-term well-being.

A significant portion of the lecture dedicated itself to Prof Nyaga’s pivotal role during the COVID-19 pandemic as he recounted his instrumental contribution to the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA). “This national collaborative effort led to the groundbreaking early detection and characterisation of the SARS-CoV-2 Beta and Omicron variants, providing crucial global warnings and directly influencing public health measures and vaccine adaptations worldwide. 

“The high-impact publications stemming from this work in journals like Science and Nature Medicine underscore the global recognition of Africa’s genomic leadership,” said Prof Nyaga. 

According to the National Research Foundation (NRF) B3-Rated Researcher, the UFS-NGS Unit's designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre for VPD Surveillance and Pathogen Genomics was strategically important because of its role in strengthening Africa's capacity for independent pathogen surveillance and contributing to health sovereignty.

Expanding genomic surveillance

His profound commitment to mentorship and capacity building emerges as a central theme throughout the lecture. He articulated his philosophy of investing in human capital, showcasing his extensive supervision of postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows. He highlighted how his efforts, including organising numerous specialised bioinformatics workshops and securing significant equipment grants, have directly contributed to equipping a new generation of African genomic scientists and building robust research infrastructure.

Prof Nyaga outlined strategic priorities for expanding genomic surveillance, integrating multi-omics data, and leveraging AI/Machine Learning for precision public health. He issued a compelling call for sustained investment in African science, advocating for equitable partnerships that prioritise co-ownership and technology transfer. He concluded with an inspiring message about empowering the next generation of genomic sentinels, asserting that a scientifically sovereign Africa is not merely a regional aspiration but an indispensable pillar of global health security.