Redeemers varsity don urges govt to set up bio-tech labs

An academic professor of note and the dean of faculty of Basic medical sciences, Redeemer University, Ede, OSUN State,Prof. Olumide Olukanni on Thursday, agitated for establishment of six bio-technological laboratories in each geo-political zones of the country to ensure purposeful development in research.

He stressed that, the zone should contain needed equipment for biotechnological research.

The academic don who made the agitation while delivering the 14th inaugural lecture of the university on Thursday in Ede, argued that, there is so much research opportunity in microbial biotech and is one of the most untapped natural resources in the world and charged federal government to act fast on its creation .

Delivering lecture with the theme, “Wonders Shall Never End: The Biotechnological Wonders Of the Maker, The Man and Microbes”, he further charged governments at all levels to leverage on biotechnology as a field of endeavour to solve many problems.

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The outstanding professor who maintained that, there are numerous benefits of biotechnology, said that microbial diversity, in general, was waiting to be explored for human’s benefits and that,the proposed ministry, if established, would still retain the nomenclature of ministry of science and technology.

” Microbia biotechnology has opened, is opening , and will continue to open diverse opportunities for scientists who want to take up research in the field.

” There is so much research opportunity in microbial biotech and is one of the most untapped natural resources in the world.

“However, commercialising such discovery requires much money, and our nation needs to improve general facilities such as electricity and water”, he said.

Olukanni said that microbes had shaped the evolution of the human immune system, critical in understanding disease pathogenesis and for the development of vaccines and treatments,

He urged government to use microbial diversity to create wealth.

” While our counterparts in the western world have taken advantage of the fact that we need microbes not only to survive, but also to prosper, Nigeria, as typical developing nations, is yet to come into this reality”, he said.