EXTEND TETFUND TO ALL UNIVERSITIES, DON ADVISES FG
A professor of Biochemistry has advocated the extension of Tertiary Education Trust Fund[TETFUND] to all Universities, especially for research purposes. Professor Ebenezer Olayinka made the submission while delivering the 11th inaugural lecture of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo. The don said lecturers and researchers in private Universities were Nigerians and are training students for the Nigerian market and contributing to the economic and manpower development of the country. He posited that those researchers are being shortchanged because of their inability to access funds for research and called for a review of the law establishing TETFUND. He said most research efforts in those institutions are self-funded by the Researchers, making it difficult for them to carry their findings to reasonable conclusions on account of poor funding
Olayinka who spoke on the topic ‘Phytochemicals as Remedy For Menace of Reactive Species: Voyages Around a Toxicologists Narrative’, also called for a well-funded multi-disciplinary Research Centre for plants extract and disease remedy, stating that in the course of his research, he found that many of the phytochemicals that provide medical remedies because they have antioxidant properties are imported and recommended more research in that area.
He said in order to derive maximum benefits form what they eat, people need to ensure that they consume sufficient quantities of natural antioxidants and phytochemicals from a variety of plants, saying he believes in the maxim ‘let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food’. He encouraged Nigerians to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables for improvement of their health.
‘Eating such provides a mix of phytochemicals found in plants that help our body fight diseases and promote good health. As such research efforts on Phytochemicals from the different colour groups of plants that would serve as a powerful disease fighters, helping to protect against cancer [Chemoprevention] should be encouraged and promoted by Nigerian government.’ He said.
Professor Olayinka, therefore, reiterated his call for research funding to be made available to scientists even in private universities. At the end of his presentation, the Vice-Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Rt. Rev. Professor Dapo Asaju, who was chairman of the occasion, declared that Olayinka had successfully inaugurated his chair as a professor of Biochemistry in the University. Management staff of the University and other dignitaries were in attendance at the event which held at the Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Law Auditorium of the institution.
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