The Vice-Chancellor, Chrisland University, Owode, Abeokuta, Professor (Mrs) Chinedum -Peace Babalola, has been honoured with the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Awards for Scientific Excellence, for her outstanding achievements in science and technology in Africa.
She disclosed this at a news conference held at the Senate Building of the institution, on Wednesday, that the award was bestowed on her during the 33rd Summit of AU, held in Addis Ababa recently.
The VC dedicated the award to all those who contributed to her success in life, advised the federal government to declare state of emergency on science and technology in the country.
She posited that more is not been done by all stakeholders to encourage women and girl in science and technology education for the nation’s national development.
“Science is important to life. Many at times, women and girls are not found in the science. We need women and girls in research and innovation, and before we can achieve that science is needed.
“We need to empower women. The AU is ready to fund women who have vocations, women entrepreneurs in science. The mindset of people is to allow women to take the lesser or the less demanding profession. You find many women in humanity than in the sciences. Women are not always in the decision-making levels. You need to promote the participation of girls and women in science because they can solve problems that affect both men and women.
“I’m passionate about women empowerment because when the chips are down, women bear a lot burden in the family. The burden is bore by women, children and girls wherever there is a problem in the society. Women should be able to stand on their own to proffer solutions to whatever challenges that they face. A woman should be able to take care of herself and others,” she added.
Professor Babalola lamented poor regulation of medicine in the country, submitting that they should be properly controlled so as to avoid any negative occurrence it might have on the populace.
She said, ” Regulation of medicine is the most important in Nigeria. Medicine is not food. One medicine can wipe out a whole nation. Medicines are poison, they should be regulated.
” In terms of drugs discoveries, that is another cup of tea. For you to discover drugs and vaccines is not bread and butter, many times, researches have been going on for years. To produce one medicine, it can take us 10 to 15 years. Although, we now have processes that can reduce drug discovery time.”