A combine team from Illumina and Industrial Scientific and Nutritional Product Nigeria Limited on a working visit to Covenant University have stated their readiness to partner with Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication Africa Centre of Excellence (CApIC-ACE) with a view to help the Centre attain her full potentials with the assemblage of research equipment at the centre.
The team lead and Executive Partner/Account Manager of Illumina, Mr Rodolphe Vetchenou, made this know during a parley with the Management of Covenant and the leadership of the University’s World Bank Centre of Excellence. According to him, the visit became necessary since it was important that Africa should showcase her own repository of professionals to the world as it pertains to issues of healthcare and genomics research.
Mr Vetchenou said the assembly of equipment in the Centre is what is needed for research work across various fields of research endeavour covering malaria and cancer; their evolution, and mapping of their genomes.
He said that they were interested in the utmost deployment and usage of these equipment for maximum accomplishment in these research endeavours. “Our desire is to empower Africans and partners with the best solutions to providing the results that will lead to care for the society,” he posited.
The Centre Leader, Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication Africa Centre of Excellence (CApIC-ACE), Professor Emeka Iweala, said the Centre’s major objective is to curate genomics data, store and carry out analysis on these data with the aim to proffer as it pertains to the field of study of research endeavours.
He appreciated the visit of ISN and Illumina, as it will, according to him, avail the Centre to concretise the relationship with both organisations and further advance the speedy utilization of these equipment.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, said the mission of Covenant is one tailored to train reformers and change the perception of the western world has about the black race by creating solution to global challenges.
Professor Adebayo said Covenant, being a research intensive driven University, is well positioned among the elite global universities according to the Times Higher Education rankings of universities across the world, and as such will be looking for opportunities to further advance her research prowess, by working with Illumina and ISN in expanding the frontiers of cancer research and related studies.
“Let’s get these equipment running, and see how we can save lives, considering the dearth in quality healthcare delivery our nation and continent,” he added.
The meeting had in attendance the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olujide Adekeye; Acting Registrar, Mrs Regina Tobi-David; Professor Olubanke Ogunlana; Professor Solomon Rotimi; Professor Grace Olasehinde; and Helen Jewvegaga.
