ON 29 March, 2020 I was asking about the plans we have as a country to leverage on this pandemic. I saw a list of donations going around. The pledges were more than 25billion naira and none of it was for capacity building or in the slightest for research.
In our president’s speech, I listened over and again to that line where he said we are waiting on the US, China and WHO for vaccine/drug for COVID-19. I wept because our country is estimated at 201 million people. So, we hung our fate on two countries.
Have you wondered why Nigeria is not at the forefront of research to address this pandemic? The reason is because we do not emphasize capacity building and infrastructure. An average Nigerian is reactive, not proactive. We are who we are.
But I counted not less than 25 Professors of Virology in Nigeria, in their different sub-specialties and status of service. I am not aware if any one of them is actively engaged in a research to end this pandemic from our end. We have refused to grow as a nation because we enjoy ‘free money’ which is not altogether free. It kills our potential as a nation.
We have the manpower, I assure you, but we do not have the infrastructure. So, the Alakija family has set the tone for what it means to change gear. Thank you Sir and Madam for thinking that the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Infectious Diseases has a role to play in this fight, beyond COVID-19. The thoughtfulness is appreciated (I, however, still think that 50 million is small, but you have done well Sir and Madam, TETFUND has not awarded more than that to a single research in the most recent history).
*Clue:* Other well-meaning Nigerians should put a part of the money they are donating as COVID-19 support into research infrastructure. Donors should request and ensure stringent accountability procedure to monitor fund management in the beneficiary institutions. We should get ready for the future.
Dr Isaac Adedimeji, Ogun State.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Buy and read digital replicas of your TRIBUNE titles by subscribing through E-VENDING
Clarence Peters Invited For Questioning Over Dancer, Kodak’s Death
Popular video director, Clarence Peters, Tribune Online gathered, has been invited for questioning by the Lagos State Police Command, over the death of dancer, Love Divine, popularly known as Kodak, who was electrocuted in his studio. Kodak, who is a popular dancer within the Nigerian music scene, allegedly died of… Read full story
MONDAY LINES: Death And Dying Emirs
DYING is nothing; choosing the right time to die, if we can, means a whole lot. This coronavirus season is a very wrong time to go – undisturbed. You die now, you leave importunate questions blowing in the air. The Emir of Kaura-Namoda in Zamfara State died on Sunday morning. Was he a victim of COVID-19, the current… Read full story
EDITORIAL: The Kano Mass Deaths
AMID the ongoing efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic in the country, a strange cloud has enveloped Kano State. In the last three weeks, the state has witnessed massive deaths of people in very controversial circumstances. The deaths first became public knowledge following the release of a video clip… Read full story
JAMB Remits N3.5 Billion To FG For 2020
THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has made an interim remittance of N3.5 billion to the Federal Government consolidated account for 2020. This is in addition to more than N3.5 billion paid to candidates as reduction of cost of ePIN as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari… Read full story
CBN, Bankers’ Committee Suspend Lay-Offs In Banks
A special meeting of the Bankers’ Committee was convened on Saturday, to further review the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian banking industry a statement from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed on Sunday… Read full story
Court Shuts Church Indefinitely In Abuja Over Lockdown Violation, As Pastor, Others Evade Arrest
A mobile court sitting in Jabi, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Sunday, ordered for an indefinite closure of The Shekinah Glory Church, located opposite the popular Citec Estate, Jabi, for violating lockdown… Read full story
and then