Varsity chancellor tasks FG, NASS on research funding

Chancellor of the Precious Cornerstone University, (PCU), Ibadan, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari -led administration to evolve mechanism of making funds accessible to researchers in Nigeria.

Specifically, Oke said there was urgent need for the government and other relevant stakeholders to assist researchers in the country who are battling to save lives through their works especially during periods like this.

Oke who doubles as the Presiding Bishop of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, also appealed to the National Assembly to enact laws that would make it compulsory for relevant agencies to finance research efforts.

He made these remarks on Thursday while speaking during a lunch organized at his behest in honour of some Nigerian scientists from some Institutions in the country who developed two preventive vaccines on Corona virus pandemic.

The renowned Cleric lauded the team coordinated by the Vice Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), Professor Kola Oloke and Dr Oladipo KolaWole of Adeleke University,Ede.

“Covid-19 is a war without gun but with a deadly virus that has left thousands of people  dead around the globe” he lamented

To this effect, the Bishop implored the Federal Government, the National Assembly and related shareholders, to support researchers with genuine proof, by funding their works.

“I am appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari, and others in his team, to rise in support of Nigeria scientists by making funds available to them. They are brainy and making waves all over the world. They just need that support” added the Cleric

Continuing he said:  “The National Assembly should legislate on how to make research funding accessible to researchers while the Central Bank of Nigeria and the concerned private sector operators should do the needful”.

According to him, the future of any nation has to do with research. “Through this, future generations will call us blessed. I want to equally urge this research team not to give up until their efforts become crystallised and I believe that God will see you through”

Also speaking at the occasion, the proprietor of Adeleke University, Dr Deji Adeleke represented by the Dean Faculty of Science, Professor Olubukola  Oyawoye, expressed the readiness of the University in ensuring that the research efforts came to fruition.

Adeleke said the efforts of the researchers in developing two preventive vaccines on coronavirus, was commendable and should be supported by  the government and well meaning individuals in the country.

Giving an over view of the efforts at developing the vaccines, Oloke said  research work took  them more than two months to arrive at the present point, adding that the team was at the point of animal trial experiment.

The Vice Chancellor lamented that funding had been major undoing of most universities in their research efforts, noting that though it was costly to fund the development of vaccines, the benefit would on the long run, be much on the people.

Dr Oladipo in his presentation, highlighted the processes undertaken on the research, expressed the optimism that the research work would at the end, be beneficial to the world.