Vision and Values for Biotechnology Innovation for the Institute of Genetic Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

By

Professor Gabriel B. Ogunmola

Chairman, Institute of Genetic Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

Capacity Building for Multidisciplinary Approach to/basic/medical Research

The discovery of the chemical nature of the genes and the resulting cracking of the genetic code triggered one of history’s most significant scientific revolutions.  It led to the technologies for improving health and increasing genetic variability of plant resources. The techniques of recombinant DNA technology monoclonal antibodies and new types of instrumentation for manipulating DNA and proteins have truly revolutionized biotechnological approach in genetic manipulation.

 

The past decade had revealed a new mode of optimism that science and technology can make major contribution to the conquest of hunger and disease and poverty in our country and throughout the world.  This optimism is based on the new scientific development in microelectronics, new materials and biotechnology but the prevailing view is that while the technologies needed for national development are readily available, the local capacities needed to bring the fruits of these technologies are inadequate.  Our universities must come to the rescue and our department must participate.

 

We are proud of our heritage in the sciences having built fine institutions for scientific research, both at the universities and our research institutes.  We have produced a very good crop of scientists in the traditional disciplines of Chemistry, Biology, Physics and the Basic Medical Science, and have at various times attempted to adapt the knowledge coming from these disciplines in the application to human needs in improving health and combat disease.  The opportunities of being able to increase the genetic diversity of organism both in plants and animals are opening up new era of unprecedented application in health and food production.  It is in the vision of this era and in the values to society that we must concentrate our efforts to a national system of innovation for contributing to our overall wellbeing, providing solution to major health problems of AIDS, genetic disease and increasing the genetic diversity of our crops to adapt to the environment and to increase excellent productivity of our fauna for better nutrition and better survival.

 

We have made many earlier efforts to invest in science and biomedical education and research and build human capacity in these areas across the humanity.  We have established contacts with major centres of biomedical research and enter into collaborative arrangements with different working groups in order to produce the national capabilities.  The research agenda of the university in Biomedical Research would need to be structured to promote collaborative programmes of research development across the University, across disciplines most especially to develop capability in Biotechnology and the integration of research agenda to accommodate and share our human capabilities.

Research efforts on genetic diseases of sickle cell has provided novel approach to opportunities of therapy through fetal hemoglobin elevation and antioxidant supplementation to increase the Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) in Sickle Cell patients.  We have expressed NEF gene in new vectors to produce antigen as possible vaccine candidate for control of HIV.  We would be seeking enriching genes to hasten Nitrogen utilization in the soil to manage our thin top soil.  Enhance fetal hemoglobin gene expression to manage sickle cell disease and engineer novel hemoprotein for catalytic function.

The promise of new biological materials as chemical agents rests in part on the fact that they can intervene in agricultural productivity, control of the environment and causes of disease.  Currently, chemical agents as drugs only treat symptoms without affecting the cause of diseases. We must now be able to produce some of these agents through biotechnological manipulation of genes to control both the diseases of plant and animal diseases in our environment and enhance wellbeing and agricultural production to combat malnutrition.

The strategies now is to go beyond eager curiosity about these goals to exploiting practical application of novel development in biomedical research and biotechnology to bring poverty to a manageable level, improvement in human health and expand new opportunity for innovation in product development to implement national priorities.

The approach must be centre on multidisciplinary research in Molecular and Cell Biology and Biotechnology using the tools of Biophysical Chemistry, Cell biology and Basic medical sciences where scientists and technologists would be able to pursue research activities at a high level at the frontier of knowledge studying the local resources and hence upgrade the human capacity in skill and excellent science.  The purpose would be to channel the creative energies in the increasing the scientific capabilities of the nation in an enriched environment provided with a basic, carefully selected array of instruments, computers and a data base for the sciences in order to make research both creative and enjoyable and to contribute to biotechnology initiatives in the country

The science, the environment and the technology we all need is available and we only have to network our human potential staring all of us in the face, backing it up with a university goal that focus on national priorities.

It should therefore be the priority objective of university wide initiative in Biomedical research to strengthen the development of capabilities for research in Biophysical Chemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Basic Medical Sciences, Information Technology and Biotechnology and at the same time, mobilize the support of world research capabilities in cell biology and  Chemistry of genetic materials to be channeled to assets the national capabilities in a way that would allow us to form unique teams to seek solutions to major problems facing Nigeria and other countries of Africa.

The Imperial Majesty,

Oba Dr. Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi,

Grand Patron,

The Vice President of the Sagamu,

Patriots Dinner’s Club,

Dr. Bola Kalejaiye,

Trustee and members of the Sagamu Patriots Dinner’s Club,

Our wives, Dames of Patriots Dinner’s Club

 

The event that has brought us here today is simple but deep. We have come as members of Sagamu Patriots Dinner’s Club to investiture His Imperial Majesty Oba Dr. Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II the Ooni of Ife the embodiment of the Progenitor of the Yoruba Race as our Grand Patron around whom we would ‘in honour bound’, now and in the future continue to adorn our race, our nation and our world with all our endowment as we continue to seek enlightment and advance the civilization of our race our country and mankind.

Remo is a community of thirty-three towns that migrated thousands of years ago, from Iremo in Ife on the instruction of our Progenitor, Oduduwa to establish new kingdoms, increase and replenish the earth. We successfully built the Remo community.

With a headquater around Sagamu (where Orisa gun amu ewa) and hence our name. We are delighted to be home to investiture – Kabiyesi.

We come as patriots; we believe in our country, we believe in our race and its continued contribution to the evolution and development of the country Nigeria. We imbibe the leadership that your Imperial Majesty has assumed in promoting peace within Yorubaland and across the entire country. We accept the responsibility as worthy sons and daughters to join in this crusade to bring peace within Yorubaland and across the nation, promote enlightments. It is for this purpose that we found your leadership style and posture so endearing and we are honoured to have your Imperial Majesty as the Grand Patron of this unique group of professionals intellectuals and people of outstanding achievement to be so gathered around the “table of honour” to pursue ideals of development and to devote our energies and resource for the upliftment of our culture, our environment, our community, our nation and mankind.

1. Our Culture needs security, order and leisure so as to involve noble perception, knowledge and pursuit of happiness for which we are all committed.
2. Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative efforts. The joy and moral stimulation of work in our daily vocations, no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of escalations profits and exchange rate profiteering. These dark days of this depressed economy will be worth all the cost on us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men. This nation must survive and the race must thrive.
3. In our communities, a host of unemployed youth face the grim problem of survival and an equally great number toil with little return. We must remove them off the streets and create farming families and produce raw materials to feed our industries. The food we eat must come from our farming hands.
4. Our greatest primary task is to promote enlightment, skill acquisition, culture and civility and put people to work. There would be no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously. It can be accomplished in part by directly recruiting into the farming population with improved tools accomplishing greatly needed projects to stimulate and reorganize the use of our natural resources while protecting the environment.

5          Hand in hand with all these we must recognize the overbalance of population drift to our urban centers and, by engaging in redistribution and endeavor to provide a better use of the land for those best fitted for the land. The task can be helped by definite efforts to raise the values of agricultural products and with this the power to purchase to meet human needs and well-being with dignity your Imperial Majesty.

6. The Giant steps that have been made since the ascension of your Imperial Majesty to the throne of Oodua, have made waves nationally and internationally, must be encouraged and we want to encourage your Imperial Majesty to continue this effort with great strides in order for us to make progress, enhance over civilization and promote our culture that would make us contribute more to the upliftment of our youth, our polity and our resources.
7. We take this opportunity to invite your Imperial Majesty to an inaugural dinner in Sagamu Remo when we the patriots, would play host to your Imperial Majesty at your earliest convenience.

 

Kabiyesi: We are most honoured to have your Imperial Majesty investiture as Grand Patron of our prestigious club that stands for excellence, enlightment and civility in all we do.

: We ask your Imperial Majesty and our Grand Patron to anoint us with your blessings for the task we have appointed for ourselves, among our youths, our community, the nation and humanity.

 

Prof. Gabriel Babatunde Ogunmola

            President 

 

The Royal Court of Ile-Ife, Osun State.

9th September, 2016.

AN ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE TENTH CONVOCATION OF

LEAD CITY UNIVERSITY, IBADAN.

 

BY

PROFESSOR GABRIEL B. OGUNMOLA FAS

CHANCELLOR

 

LEAD CITY UNIVERSITY, IBADAN.

 

THURSDAY 9^TH NOVEMBER, 2017.

 

His Excellency: Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, GCON, SAN, Vice-President Federal Republic of Nigeria.

His Excellency, Senator Dr. Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi, The Governor of Oyo State & Chief (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi, The First Lady of Oyo State

His Excellency, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor, State of Osun

Oyo State Commissioner for Education Prof. J.A. Olowofela & other members of the State Executive Council

The GOC 2^nd Mechanized Division, Nigerian Army, Major Gen. C.M. Abraham

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Lead City University, Prof. J.A. Aladekomo

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Lead City University Prof. Jide Owoeye

The Vice Chancellor, Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof. Remi Adeyemo

The Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Rasheed Adamu Abubakar

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Isiaq Oloyede

Top Government Functionaries at both Federal and State Levels

The Registrar, Lead City University

The Bursar

The Librarian

Deans of Faculties

Chaplain of Convocation

The Public Orator

Members of Senate and Congregation

Members of the University Community

Visiting Pro-Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Provosts and Registrars of our Sister Institutions

2017 Enterprise Graduates

Parents, Friends and Well-Wishers

Gentlemen of the Press, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

 

The Chaplain of Convocation, Venerable Godwin Daramola, I thank you for your prayers. This is the 10^th Convocation prayer blessedly entered into the Lead City University book of prayers of Convocation and May God accept your supplications for Lead City University, our State and our Nation. We have faith, we have hope and we believe in God for his sustenance of the noblest of our intension in building a University.

I offer a very special warm welcome to our special guest of honour His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to this 10^th convocation ceremony of Lead City University, Ibadan. We feel highly honoured by Your Excellency’s presence with us today, as a good encouragement to us in our commitment to all we do here, in our mission to produce worthy graduates to meet the skill and manpower needs of this nation. We thank your Excellency for your graciousness as we look forward to your Excellency address to the 10^th convocation, Lead City University, Ibadan.

I welcome all of you, our Graduants of today, your families and friends.

I continue as always to remind you on an occasion like this that this is your University, you have today become its Alumnus for life, you must believe in it, help to build it and feedback unto it with gratitude with the great profit of your acquired education and the proceeds of your labour.

You must work along other compatriots to build a country different from our current situations. It is our pride to have the new set of ‘Enterprise Graduates 2017’ pass through our portal and glad to be able to send you out to excel in the wider world and to continue to add more laurels to the one you are receiving today.

Our honourary degree recipients of today are people of outstanding achievements and worthy role models for you to emulate for the achievements that they have made in different areas of life. We would listen with delight to the public orator as he presents them for their respective honors. I offer you my congratulations!

We must continue to thank our proprietor and benefactor for the continued support in resources made available to this University in its expansion of facilities, content of our academic programme in our aspiration to be a University of high ranking in the nation and globally as well. We will continue to enhance our academic programs based on needs, and future trends. With support from our Board of Trustees, the Chairman and members of Council, the Vice Chancellor and members of Senate, Management and members of Faculties and staff for their valuable contributions to the great strides and achievements of this University, through the efforts of our faculty and students, I would like to express our sincere gratitude.

We are happy to welcome Professor Remi Adeyemo, an accomplished Professor and administrator who had served this University previously as Deputy Vice Chancellor, as the new Vice Chancellor, Lead City University. He succeeds Professor Femi Onabanjo who has completed his term of office in February, 2017. Hearty Congratulation as we look forward to an inspired leadership during your tenure as Vice Chancellor.  He would in due course, inform convocation of the achievements of the University since the last convocation in 2016. We thank Professor Femi Onabanjo, the past Vice-Chancellor for his services to Lead City University. We wish him well in his new endeavours.

To our 2017 graduating students and their family and friends, Lead City University, Ibadan shares this joyful day with many and all of you. This day will be an extremely happy one. You are graduating from a University of higher standard created to serve our nation, our world and humanity. You do have a splendid future in front of you. There is hope in each and every one of you and about Nigeria’s future despite all of our many challenges.  It is on the solid strength of your character and a sense of high responsibility that Nigeria will progress and become a prosperous and become a developed nation. Let us own this country, it is ours to build and develop by our very energies and patriotism. Let us serve our nation with the best of our abilities. When you reach my age, Nigeria would be your investments in its future through your contributed skill and enterprise have eliminated poverty and be in the ranks of the best 20 economies in the world. Some of you would have climbed your way to the top ladder of leadership companies in the world, while others will have created such companies as well. Some will be leaders in government, and some learned University Professors. A number of you will choose to dedicate your lives to helping others through philanthropy or by bringing up families. The one certainty is that you will all face challenges but you have received the training here of a good University to overcome those challenges. As you have survived here in the past four or five years at this University, you can survive almost anything.

You or your parents have paid a great deal for you to have the opportunity to be here and to have achieved success. One thing that must be of public interest is the fact that we have more capacity than the number of students that we are graduating today. This is a scenario common to most Private Universities many of which are operating below 50% capacity as many qualified students could not take advantage of what we offer because their parent could not fund their tuition. Also, there is this pervasive but clearly erroneous perception that the Nigerian University system cannot admit all aspiring candidates. To the best of my knowledge, we have more spaces in our 146 universities to accommodate qualified students from all over the West African Sub-region but the problem of access remains scarcity of resources on the part of those willing to attend fee paying institutions. This should challenge this nation’s government at the Federal, State and Local Government levels to put their budget, grants to support indigent students’ aspiring into any tertiary institutions where they have been offered placement irrespective of the character of proprietorship of the institution be it public or private. I know the Vice-Chancellor would have more to say on this in his own address very shortly.

Once again, I congratulate parents, sponsors and all the enterprise graduates of 2017 at Diploma, Bachelors and Masters Degree levels. May you fulfil your dreams for yourself, our dear Nation and the World at large.

God bless you all and God bless our country, Nigeria.

Thank you all for your kind attention

 

Professor Gabriel B. Ogunmola FAS

Chancellor,

Lead City University,

Ibadan.