President of the Nigerian Society for Microbiology (NSM), Professor Mohammed Yerima, ahead of the opening ceremony of the 44th Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Society, has appreciated the management of Covenant University for taking up the task of hosting the yearly forum.
Professor Yerima, who led the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Society on a courtesy visit to the University management, said he was glad that after all the proposal and planning, the largest delegation of the NSM-NEC will be gracing the conference this year.
He noted that the conference coming to Covenant was without controversy because many other institutions were accessed, but none had the assemblage of facilities to host the kind of event that the NEC had in mind like Covenant University.
"After accessing many other institutions, Covenant University is the best place to start something tangible that will revolutionize the field of microbiology as a profession in Nigeria," he enthused.
Professor Yerima said Covenant University over the years has been synonymous with excellence and hoped the platform of the 44th Annual Conference will stir participants and members of NEC to take home something unique from the Covenant University experience.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abiodun H. Adebayo, welcomed the leadership of the body for choosing Covenant as the host institution and for bringing on board as resource persons some of the best brains in the field of microbiology.
According to him, "The fact that the keynote speaker is one of the best, who has contributed significantly to the body of knowledge, both within and outside the shores of Nigeria, coupled with the other line-up of speakers that are respected in this field, makes me sure participants are in for the best."
Professor Adebayo charged conference organisers to see how they can come up with possible solutions that can be offered to the government and the private sector in alleviating the plethora of challenges bedevilling the nation in recent times as it relates to energy and gas.
The conference will run from July 24–28, 2023, at the main auditorium of the Centre for Research, Innovation, and Discovery, Covenant University (CUCRID), with the theme ‘Microbial Bio-Heritage and the Post-COVID Dynamics of Global Relevance.’