Truly, finally the dream of the University of Nigeria Nsukka to host a
UNESCO category II Centre in the biotechnology sphere did became a
reality, earlier this week, which is on Monday, following the signing of
the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) between the Federal Government of
Nigeria and UNESCO.
As at the time of compiling this article, a
colourful ceremony was held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on Monday,
which is the 13th of October, 2012, and the People present, which
includes the Director General of UNESCO, Mrs Irina Bokova, who signed
the MoU on behalf of UNESCO,while the Honourable Minister of Education,
Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, for the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Biotechnology centre is intended to conduct an advanced training,
EDUCATION and research in biotechnology with her main aim on food
security, bio-resource conservation and tropical diseases.
While in addition, the centre will host international conferences,
and collaborate with other educational institutions in Nigeria and the
rest of Africa Governments and Educational Institutions to advance
biotechnology education in her sub-region.
Just in a short address which was presented during the Wonderful
ceremony,Mrs Bokova described biotechnology as a catalyst for economic
development and also plays a large important role in the world, which is
the creation of Wealth and she says that the commitment of UNESCO, is
to help promote networking for the development of science, education and
knowledge exchange and also to building national capacity.
In her post-signing address, The Minister Of Education In Nigeria,
Professor Ahmed Rufa’i revealed that the government of Nigeria had
placed a premium on the establishment of the centre and expressed her
optimism that the centre will soon become a reference institution that
would not just contribute to national research, but would be an
international capacity building, research and development.
In his reaction, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, Professor Bartholomew Okolo, who was also in Paris to witness
the ceremony, explained that the centre was the only one of its kind in
Africa and has the mandate to address the problems of food security and
tropical diseases in Africa.
The UNN professor further pointed out that he gave an assurance that
the centre would live up to the mandates and would have the desired
impact not only on the livesof Nigerians, but on the lives of all
Africans.
While chatting with the Nigerian journalists, the excited
Vice-Chancellor, who is also a biotechnologist, further explained that
the signing ceremony was the climax of a long and rigorous process that
has already commence 6 years ago.
The UNN vice chancellor went ahead to highlight the list of persons
and organisations who has participated and had played important roles in
making the dream a reality. First and foremost, he than
ked the Federal Government of Nigeria, and Nigeria President, Dr
Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Education,Professor Ahmed Rufa’i,
whom he said made it possible for UNN to achieve the feat.
The UNN Vice Chancellor was also grateful to the Executive Secretary
of National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, and
the Education Trust Fund, for providing the funds for the maintenance of
the centre on behalf of the federal government.
On the side of UNESCO, the UNN vice chancellor also thanked the
Director General of UNESCO, Mrs Irina Bokova, the Assistant Director
General for Natural Sciences, Professor Gretchen Kalonji, the Director
of Division of Basic Engineering Science, Professor Malecj Nalecz, the
programme Specialist in the Natural Sciences Sector, Dr Lucy Hoareau,
and their “wonderful staff”, for their incredible support over the past
six years.
And Finally, the VC also acknowledged the support and hospitality of
the ambassador /permanent delegate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to
UNESCO, Her Excellency, Mrs Mariam Katagun, and her staff for their
help
Read more: http://nigeriaopenuniversity.blogspot.com/2012/10/university-of-nigeria-nsukka-unn-signs.html#ixzz3mSV2WgRc
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