The present economic recession will not stop Babcock University from establishing a well-equipped Central Research Laboratory, the President/Vice Chancellor, Prof Ademola Tayo, has said.
Tayo disclosed this at the opening of the first young microbiologists’ conference, which took place at the main auditorium of the Babcock Business School on Monday.
He also pledged his continuous support to the microbiology department within the limits of available resources.
Tayo said that the science, particularly microbiology, is a critical subject to human development and that wise nations should take its study and application seriously.
Apart from scientific research, he said his administration has focused on improving the quality and delivery of tuition, laboratory furnishings and staffing since assumption of duty two years ago.
He said the importance of microbiology and its application in the medical, agricultural, environmental and industrial areas of human activities informed its separation from the department of Biosciences and Biotechnology.
The Chief of Staff, Dr. Sunday Audu, represented the Vice Chancellor at the event.
Earlier, the dean of the School of Basic Sciences, Prof Stephen Fapohunda, said the objective of the conference was to sensitise Nigerians, especially the youth, about microbiology.
“We want them to start early so that the business of microbiology in Nigeria will be beneficial in the area of food, medicine, agriculture,” he said.
The conference had in attendance high profile speakers from Nigeria, South Africa, United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.