By Simon Ebegbulem and Gabriel Enogholase
BENIN— THE Vice-Chancellor of the Benson Idahosa University, Benin, Professor Ernest Izevbigie, yesterday, charged Nigerian scientists and students on the need to embark on serious research with a view to finding solution to the dreaded Ebola virus and other diseases rather than wait for Americans and other Western countries.

Briefing newsmen as part of activities for the 10th convocation of the university, Professor Izevbigie described the prevailing problems in the country as a challenge for both students and Nigerian professors.

He charged the graduating students of the university to apply what they have learnt in the by providing solutions to these “growing world challenges.”

He said 456 students will graduate from the school with 1st Class; 143 with 2nd Class Upper; 156 with Second Class Lower and 17 with 3rd Class.

He said: “The world has been in a state of panic over the re-emergence of Ebola Virus. We have a lot of professionals in this country. We have many professors in this country in various fields. The essence of this attainment of academic excellence is to do research.

“You do not get professorship as a honour just for the sake of it. You have to engage in active research for societal good. On Sunday, our Pro-Chancellor asked all the scientists to come out during the service and she prayed for us that God should give us the grace to get additional insight to the revelation so that we can make contribution to the problem of Ebola virus.

“Some of us have been saying America should do more; the West should do more. I have a different approach which is that everybody should do more. We should not look at somebody from outside to solve our problems.

“I am saying the science community here should do more. That is why I met with staff of the Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences and challenged them that we be part of the solution.”

Esan S-East chair calls
for  more isolation centres

Als0 the killer Ebola virus continue to spread to other parts of the country, Chairman of Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr. Joseph Ikpea, has appealed to the Federal Government to establish isolation centres in all the local government headquarters in the country with a view to containing the disease.

Ikpea, who expressed worry over the high number of the victims of the contagious disease within and outside the country, said at Ubiaja, the administrative headquarters of Esan South-East council, that the council had commenced sensitisation campaign to create awareness in the locality.

Speaking at the flagging off ceremony of the third phase of the council’s free health care programme, he said: “My appeal goes to the Federal Government to ensure that this virus does not spread further.

“Funds should be made available to all the local governments to build isolation centres. If we do not have isolation centres across the councils, when it happens, it will create an epidemic.”

he said.

Ikpea said that the exercise, which cuts across the 10 wards of the council, will evolve the services of medical and paramedic personnel who were expected to administer appropriate medication to patients.