AKINDE COMMISSIONS BIO-INFORMATICS TRAINING AND RESEARCH LABORATORY

The Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, in collaboration with the Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication African Center of Excellence (CApIC-ACE), Covenant University, Ota has established and commissioned a Bioinformatics Training & Research Laboratory at the Raheem Oloyo International Conference Centre in the Polytechnic. 

The commissioning took place yesterday, May 15th, during the opening ceremony of a week-long training program towards the effective use and maintenance of the laboratory. 

Speaking during the event, the Director, the Centre for Information and Communication Technology of the Polytechnic, Dr. Mrs. Jumoke Soyemi stated that CApIC-ACE was established and funded by World Bank based on the urgent need to build a critical mass of indigenous African scientists with the necessary Bioinformatics, molecular biology, and information & communications, engineering knowledge and skills to drive and sustain impactful researches in the areas of malaria, prostate and breast cancer as well as cloud & high-performance computing as related to personalized medicine, in collaboration with academic, clinical and industrial institutions in Nigeria, West Africa, Africa, Germany, France, US and UK.

She added that collaborators to this centre of excellence include eight universities, of which Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro happened to be the only Polytechnic, among the eight universities which include OAU, Ile-Ife, LASUTH, Lagos, ABU, Zaria, ACE Medicare, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Landmark University, Omuo-Aran and Afe Bablola University, Ado-Ekiti to benefit from this privilege in Nigeria. 

According to Dr. Mrs. Soyemi, the proposal towards this was signed by the Former Rector, Arc. Olusegun Aluko, Ph.D. and Dr.(Mrs) Soyemi who is the partner in the collaboration between the two schools by the virtue of her PhD at Covenant University as well as the coordinator of the research laboratory.

She concluded her address by delightedly adding that the commissioning of the laboratory is a plus to the Polytechnic and a rare feat achieved by the Rector, Dr. M.A. Akinde.

Also speaking, one of the CApIC-ACE partners, Prof. Uweala said that by virtue of the partnership which gave birth to the establishment of the laboratory, the impacts and benefits accruable therefrom will be of invaluable importance to the Polytechnic in particular and the world at large. 

Prof. Iweala, therefore, reiterated the need to initiate an  MOU with the Institution so as to promote further collaborations and grant research Proposals.

In his response, the Rector, Dr M.A Akinde, FCA, on behalf of the management welcomed the team to the institution and seized the opportunity to inform the gathering that this event perfectly aligns with the vision and mission of the institution and that he is therefore elated this is coming to pass.

The one-week-long training program's facilitators are Prof. Jelili Oyelade and Dr. Itunuoluwa Isewon, both from Covenant Applied Informatics Center - African Center of Excellence (CApIC-ACE), Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Also, present at the Opening ceremony and commissioning included the Deputy Rector, Academics, Dr. C.B. Iro-Idoro, Deputy Rector, Admin, Tpl Lasisi, the Registrar, Mrs. A.F. Babatola, Bursar, Mr. M.B. Akinola and the Polytechnic Librarian, Dr. B.C. Atulomah. 

The training program will be rounded off on Friday, 19th May, 2023.