Bishop Francis Wale-Oke, the Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, has urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to make adequate funding available for research so as to secure the future of the country.
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Wale-Oke made the appeal in Ibadan on Thursday at a luncheon organised to appreciate Nigerian scientists working on vaccines against COVID-19.
He said that the future of the country could only be secured in research and innovative technology, adding that there was the need to devote funds to such endeavours.
Wale-Oke, who is also the National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Founder Christ Life Church, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustafa, to provide an enabling environment for researchers.
“Everybody in government should provide an enabling environment that will bring out the best in Nigerian researchers.
“Our children are the best in the world. Let’s give them money to fund their research.
“The future is in research. The blessings of science that we are enjoying today are the products of research of yesterday.
“If they didn’t fund research at that time there would be nothing to enjoy now and if we are moving into a better tomorrow we must fund research today to give Nigeria a tomorrow,” he said.
The chancellor also urged the National assembly to legislate on funding local research in medicine and science, especially vaccines, as well as other aspects of life.
“Let’s promote research; our universities are not useless. They are full of egg-heads that are very productive.
“Let’s show them support and funding instead of spending money on things that will perish.
“I want to also challenge the Central Bank of Nigeria and its governor to please include in its budget research fund for scientists for vaccines.
“Organised private sector and well to do Nigerians should also join in promoting research,” he said.
Wale-Oke commended the team of scientists from various universities who had collaborated to produce vaccines to help humanity at this critical time.
He enjoined them to be diligent and continue in collaboration until they bring the vaccines to a conclusion where it would be safe to be applied on humans without negative effects.
Prof Kola Oloke, the team leader of the researchers and Vice Chancellor, Precious Cornerstone University, said teaching was an aspect of what universities were to do although the major task was research.
“As academics, when you have challenges like this you don’t go to sleep, you have to find solutions to the present COVID-19.
“What will distinguish universities is the research that is providing solutions to human challenges, ” he said.
One of the scientists working on COVID-19 vaccine, Dr Kolawole Oladipupo, said the research was based on exploring surface glycoprotein to design a multi epitope vaccine against COVID-19.
According to him, the research has produced two vaccines which had been subjected to different tests.
He said that the next phase was animal trial, adding that his team was working on other vaccines for Lassa Fever and dementia.
Oladipupo said funding would go a long way to help move the research to a good conclusion when it could then be mass produced.