By Elizabeth Osayande & Mary Ogbaebor

One of Nigeria’s faith-based institution, Mountain Top University, MTU has recorded a milestone with the Centre for Genomics and Biomedicine research receiving two hundred and fifty-six thousand US dollars ,$256,000.00, from African Academy of Science AAS, to begin full operation.

The Vice Chancellor, MTU, Prof. Elijah Ayolabi, disclosed this  during the fourth pre -convocation press briefing, at the Senate building on Monday, where he said that part of the grant will be used to host H3ABioNet’s 1st iteration of the PostGWAS Intermediate Bioinformatics Training course set to begin  in January 2023, first of its kind in Africa. 

According to the VC: “Our Centre for Genomics and Biomedicine research has commenced full operation with the support of two hundred and fifty-six thousand US dollars $256,000.00 from African Academy of Science AAS. 

“The Centre will be hosting H3ABioNet’s 1st iteration of the PostGWAS Intermediate Bioinformatics Training Course in January 2023,  having met all the the international standards.

“Our Geoscience programmes also  received a software donation to the tune of $6.1m from Schlumberger Overseas, the first of its kind to any private university in Nigeria. Similarly, one of our Geophysics students secured the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) project/research grant support during the year.”

Reeling out the achievements of the institution since it’s inception in 2015, Prof. Ayolabi reiterated that the recent accreditation of courses, and ranking of the national universities commission, NUC, was a testament of God’s faithfulness.

His words: ” Based on the release from the NUC via its National University system rankings of 11th December, 2021, MTU ranking among other Nigerian Universities are as follows: 1st position in Full Accreditation of all programmes, 1st position in Google Scholar presence, 11th position in overall ranking, 6th position in Private Universities, 5th position in Private University in S/W Geopolitical Zone and 1st position in Private Universities less than 10 years old. We are deeply thankful to God for the ranking we have received and we give Him all the glory.

 “But we also acknowledge that we are not there yet. These positions simply serve as pointers to the attainment of the feats ahead. Consequently, we are confident that Mountain Top University is on track and that the goal of being one of the best in the world is achievable. Prof. Ayolabi noted.

Meanwhile, Ogun state governor, HE, Prince Dapo Abiodun will on Thursday December 22 deliver the convocation lecture tagged :” The youths as catalysts in building Nigeria’s future.”

The ceremony will celebrate 31 students out of  a total of 259 graduands who made first class at the undergraduates. The event will also have the first set of the institution postgraduate students , about five of them receive higher degrees in their respective courses.