Yobe state Governor, Mai Mala Buni assured authorities of York University, United Kingdom, of readiness for collaboration to make Yobe State a base for the University’s biomedical research center, making the fifth in Africa.
Gov. Buni gave the assurance on Monday when he visited the University, saying the state is committed to joint funding opportunities, equipment upgrades and capacity building for students, teachers, doctors and scientists to promote study and research for service delivery in healthcare services.
In a statement signed by Governor Buni’s Spokesman, Mamman Mohammed also solicited for a joint collaboration for research in Renal and sickle cell diseases, to find the root causes, support patients and possible eradication.
The governor said, his government had awarded a N160 million contract for the construction a dedicated site for the Biomedical Research and Training Center at the State University.
“Meanwhile, government has also upgraded the temporary site for the Research center at the University for conducive teaching and research activities.
“We are prepared to support research to improve healthcare delivery. We are also committed to produce manpower needed in our institutions to feed our heathcare facilities”, Buni said.
Professor Peter O’Toole, a World renowned Researcher in Biomedical Science, who received Governor Buni and his entourage conducted him around the research center and introduced him to the latest state-of-the-art equipment in research.
According to Prof. Peter, the University which is renowned for academic excellence and medical research, established research centers in four African countries including Ethiopia, Uganda, kenya and Sudan with prospects to establish more.
By El Shaddai
