FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES OTUKPO
FUHSO COLLABORATES WITH WAC-EID
Scientific research or method is an attempt to understand the world through observation, analysis, and deduction. It requires trust in empirical evidence. The scientific method is observing-watch, hypothesis-make theory, experiment-try it out, and verification-testing the theory with further experiments. All these are based on facts and evidence.
It is against the foregoing that the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, FUHSO, Benue State, in its bid to broaden its frontiers as a Centre for Excellence on Emerging and re-Emerging Infectious Diseases, organized a rendezvous on RESEARCH COLLABORATION with the West African Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, (WAC-EID) from the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, JUTH, Plateau State.
The rendezvous was conspicuously arranged for Principal Officers, Management, Dean and Heads of Departments, Academic staff, Members of Institute of Global Health and Health Security, IGH & HS, Advancement Office and Council Member – Professor John Idoko in attendance.
Principal investigator, cum-Clinical lead of WAC-EID, Dr. Nathan Shehu led his team to the august meeting which took place at the University Hall A, auditorium, take-off Campus, Otada, Otukpo.
Speaking during a parley with the Vice-Chancellor at the Council Chamber, Professor Innocent Ujah, mni, expressed joy with the scholars saying FUHSO would gain immensely from the wealth of knowledge and expertise that Dr. Nathan and his team have brought to the fore.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, DVC, Academic, Prof Steve Abah, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, pointed out succinctly the willingness and preparedness of the University to collaborate with WAC-EID in areas of research and transfer of requisite information. He called on the participants to take advantage of the opportunity of the interface to glean from the expertise the resource persons have brought to bear.
Earlier, Dr. Nathan Shehu, a Consultant Physician, JUTH, expressed joy at the invitation extended to him and his team by the University management to share experience in the field of infectious and emerging diseases. Dr. Shehu avowed the encouragement he received from Prof John Idoko, a Council Member and erstwhile Director General, DG, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), whom he glowingly described as a worthy mentor.
At the interactive session, the Principal Investigator reeled out the position of the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) that the bodies were poised to conduct and support research on infectious agents and investigates the biological properties of these pathogens and the immune system’s response to them.
The Consultant Physician, further propounded to the avid participants that NIAID is fully committed to creating vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic tools to better diagnose, prevent, and treat infectious diseases. Continuing, the erudite Consultant stated that the purpose of the confabulation was to among other variables encourage and galvanize Science Faculty in FUHSO to engage in extensive viral research.
Dr Shehu maintained that the Centre would collaborate with FUHSO in training, diagnosis, participation in surveillance and outbreak investigations amongst others. He suggested a robust research culture for the University which included setting up research career guidelines, research incentives, and mini-grants to Departments, Deans, Conferences, Faculty Laboratories, Research hubs, Cells, and Groups. The Infectious Disease Specialist, advised that for researchers to excel, interest must be shifted from pecuniary benefits, noting that commitment and hard work must always precede other considerations.
In a vote of thanks, Registrar of the University, Mallam Aminu Abbah, FIMC, acknowledged the all-important role of research in the University system, positing that Dr. Shehu and his team have added much value to the institution and called for painstaking work and collaboration between mentor and mentee.
Professor Idoko lauded the Presenter, averring that he was proud of Dr Shehu’s meteoric rise and called on ‘old Scholars’ to do more research with a view to proffering solutions to maladies that were confronting communities. The quondam DG, NACA solicited collaboration with relevant agencies, lamenting the lack of inter-agency collaboration which he described as the bane of progress, asserting that the University of Jos remains the best collaborator that FUHSO should look up to.
The University Librarian, Dr Kathryn Philip, while thanking the Presenter, acknowledged the important role Social scientists played in the field of Scientific Research and called for a concerted effort to bridge the gap.
Provost, College of Medicine, Professor Oladapo Shittu who moderated the questions and answers section, clarified the dichotomy between partnership and collaboration. He submitted that FUHSO was on the right path of collaborating with WAC-EID.
Dean, Faculty of Science, Prof. Joseph Okopi congratulated Dr. Shehu for his scintillating presentation. He eulogized Prof. Idoko’s mentorship and described him as a father, while calling on ‘young academics’ to brace up and work extra hard, stating that research demands time and energy. On his part, a Professor of Analytical-Environmental Chemistry, and Head of the Department of Chemistry, Prof. Friday Okibe commended Dr. Shehu for the thrilling session. Meanwhile, Director, Institute of Global Health and Health Security, IGH & HS, Dr. Emmanuel Odu, extolled the vivacious presentation of the Consultant Physician, enthused and yearning for more futuristic collaborations.
Prof. Audu Onyemocho of the Department of Community Medicine lamented the paucity of funds as one of the impediments for the would-be-researchers and called for consideration from sundries. Director of Works and Maintenance, Arch. Ochapa Adadu confirmed the vibrancy of Dr. Shehu’s depth and erudition which he delineated as thoughtful