Yobe Govt spends N800m on constructing research centre
Yobe Govt spends N800m on constructing research centre
Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe says the state has spent N800 million on constructing the permanent office of the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) of the state University, Damaturu.
Buni stated this at the inauguration of the centre in Damaturu on Thursday.
He appreciated the uncommon commitment and generous contributions by Prof. Mahmoud Maina, BioRTC Director, for acquiring equipment worth over N10billion for the centre’s operations.
“This is a scientific asset that will enable research that is more inclusive, more accurate, and more relevant to our people.
“This is because, for too long, Africa has been subjected to rely on medical and other researches that are conducted in different climes, environments, culture and lifestyle without recourse to our peculiarities and genetic diversity.
“I am proud that BioRTC has established Africa’s first major induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) bio bank with an African-centered focus,” Buni said.
The governor noted that BioRTC was leading the establishment of one of Nigeria’s most ambitious and deeply characterized dementia research cohorts.
According to him, this work will place our country on the global map in Alzheimer’s disease and brain health research, and ensure African populations are not excluded from the future of neuroscience.
“Similarly, for many decades, several communities along the banks of the River Yobe have been plagued by Chronic Kidney Disease, losing many precious lives, and throwing many families into agony on a daily basis.
“This has been a major driving force to the establishment of the centre to find a solution to this scourge,” he said.
Buni called on the Federal Ministry of Health to partner the BioRTC for open, low-cost diagnostics on malaria microscopy and other related community-level diagnostic programmes.
He also pleaded with the Federal Government to establish a Federal Kidney Disease Center in the state to reverse the increasing cases of kidney failure.
The governor appreciated the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA) for inducting him into the Society’s Hall of Fame for advancing neuroscience and tackling health challenges like kidney disease in Africa.
In his remarks, Maina, a neuroscientist, thanked the Buni-led administration for providing operational funds to the BioRTC and sponsoring its staff for foreign training.
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He said BioRTC was founded by him in 2021 with support from officials of the university and state government, adding that the centre has trained over 1000 scientists on research and innovation since then.
Maina, a visiting Professor at University of Sussex, England, said through his foreign contacts, BioRTC acquired state-of-the-art equipment, including high-end laser confocal microscopes and circular dichroism machine.
Prof. Amadi Ihunwo, Chairman, Governing Council, Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA), called on the public and private sector to invest in BioRTC.
He advised the Federal Government to establish BioRTC centres in each of the six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to investigate and tackle tropical diseases.
