Pioneer Vice Chancellor of Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, Prof. Friday Okonofua, has said curriculum overhaul in tertiary education would boost and increase research in maternal health.
He was the guest lecturer at the 4th Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele Annual Lecture in Obstetrics and Gyneacology last week at the College of Medicine University of Lagos, Idi-Araba.
The lecture entitled: ‘Fostering research and innovation in Obstetrics and Gyneacology and women’s health’ was organised by the Office of the Advancement and Board of Trustees of Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele Annual lecture in Obstetrics and Gyneacology in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gyneacology, College of Medicine, UNILAG.
The don stressed the need for universities to put more resources to research in maternal healthcare. He deplored the scarcity of research output in reputable international journals.
He, however, praised stakeholders for their efforts in ensuring the availability and accessibility of funds for researchers to engage in solution-based researches.
Okonofua also said capacity building was crucial to ensuring that maternal issues get enough research attention.
Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Development Services), Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa who represented outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, emphasised the belief of the university in research as the mainstay of the academia.
Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof. David Oke,said the lecture would serve as a veritable platform for medical advancement in the country.
The Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo Fabanwo, who was Chairman of the Lecture, thanked UNILAG for supporting the legacy of the donor.
The first female grant award winner who benefitted from the 2019 Endowment for Research, Dr Babah Ochuwa expressed her gratitude for the privilege of the research grant. She stated that her publication was cited in several international journals and that the discoveries as a result of the research would serve as a template for further research.
The late Dame Frederica Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele initially launched 4 endowments as professorial chairs which subsequently became annual lectures in the University of Lagos, the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Osun State University.