By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

Borno state Government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum is to partner with Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN) and other Research Health-Related Institutions (RHRI) in mitigating the increasing cases of Kidney disease and other renal failure which have so far claimed many lives.

This was disclosed by the governor on Wednesday when he declared open Biotechnology Society of Nigeria’s 36th International Conference, with the theme: ‘Innovative Biotechnology for National Development: Role of Public and Private partnerships’.

The occasion had professors from across the globe, students in attendance including the Vice Chancellor Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, Professor Lawal Bilbis as Chairman.

The event was hosted by the Vice Chancellor University of Maiduguri, Professor Aliyu Shugaba which took place at Muhammadu Indimi International Conference Centre, Maiduguri.

Governor Zulum who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr Bukar Tijjani alongside the Vice Chancellor UNIMAID, Professor Shugaba received BSN 2024 Achiever’s Awards, for prioritizing Education, Science and Technology.

The governor commended the organizers, particularly the President of BSN, Professor Sylvia Uzochukwu for choosing Borno as venue for this year’s crucial meeting.

He said, “One of the biggest challenge we have in Borno, and by extension Yobe state, is the issue of rampant cases of renal failure. Of course, the medical staff at University of Maiduguri Teaching, UMTH as well as our State Specialist Hospital Kidney Centres are doing their best in the treatment and management of kidney clients through medications and dialysis, but we need to partner with relevant stakeholders such as BSN and other organizations to key into research and mitigate the menace.

“To this end, Borno State Government will support BSN and its affiliates in its research programmes by developing vaccines and other consumables aimed at addressing the most killer diseases such as Malaria, kidney failure and other human and veterinary health, as well as agriculture to achieve socio-economic development”. Zulum stated.

In her address, the National President of Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN), Professor Sylvia Uzochukwu said for any nation to mitigate disease outbreak and achieve sustainable development, there is need to embrace Biotechnology and Research by both public and private sectors.

“We have already carried out our traditional Pre-conference workshop on Basic in vitro Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Manipulation Techniques, at the world-class facilities of UNIMAID’s Biotechnology Centre. We had participants from far and near, and erudite Resource Persons to point participants to contemporary methods for cutting-edge research in biotechnology.

“They will employ these techniques in their research for resolving Nigeria’s myriad of problems with food,
health and the environment. The workshops are for the training and re-training of the scientists of
tomorrow and their teachers in the use of the tools of in vitro DNA manipulation which is at the core of the modern biotechnology revolution.

“It is to these new tools and techniques that we owe the development of the COVID vaccines that marked the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The training courses help to build human and institutional capacities in biotechnology for the country, with a view to solving our problems with food security, affordable health care, and a safe environment.” Uzochukwu said.

She therefore pledged that BSN under her leadership will support Borno State Government and other states of the federation to have access to basic healthcare and sustainable development, even as she implored chief executives of Nigerian universities and research institutes to budget more money
for conference attendance and not depend solely on TETFUND conference funds.

The Vice Chancellor, UNIMAID, who is the Chief Host, Professor Shugaba appreciated Governor Zulum and all other stakeholders for gracing the occasion.

He added that, this year’s conference was supposed to take place in August, but he kindly requested to host it in April before time, because his tenure would end in June, adding that, he was most humbled by accepting his request.