Prof Marte Appeals To Key Stakeholders To Ensure Standard Pharmacology Research Equipment Are Procured

By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria

The Chief of Staff to the Borno State Governor, Professor Isa Marte Hussaini has appealed to universities management and other key stakeholders to ensure that standard pharmacology research equipment are procured to boost the declining research in the sector.

He made the appeal during the 42nd Annual Conference of the West African Society for Pharmacology in Zaria on Wednesday, as the keynote speaker. 

Professor Marte Hussaini lamented that research has declined in pharmacology and most of the equipment at the laboratories are outdated while the procured equipment are not standard.
The Chief Of Staff  said that there is the need to strengthen professional   mentorship to enhance academic research.
`Those of us that are experienced should be more dedicated and care more for the younger ones; mentorship is not just giving one degree, you make sure that you assist that person throughout his career so that he becomes not as good as you, but better than you,’’ he said.
On the way forward, the Pharmacology Professor said senior lecturers should rededicate themselves more on mentoring younger ones

In his address, Prof. Kabir Bala, Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria has tasked the West African Society for Pharmacology (WASP) to focus  on drug abuse, addiction; illicit drugs and substance abuse  and pharmaco-vigilance towards health and security threats in the society.    
The Vice Chancellor, represented by Prof Sani Abdullahi, Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, said the appeal has become imperative because part of the society’s engagement during the conference was a sensitization and awareness campaign on drug abuse for secondary schools in Zaria.

He, therefore, commended the society for setting and maintaining the highest professional standards and code of practice for the pharmacologists that is comparable to the best around the globe.
He said the university identifies with the philosophy and objectives of the society which relate with the principal mandate of the ABU as well as their significance to national development.
Also in her address, the President of the Society, Prof. Omotayo O.  Ebong said in the last 50 years, the society has been continuously driven to accomplish the vision of its founding fathers and raise the bar. 
She said, despite various challenges in the last 50 years, the society is however, not relenting in continuing to reach out to every country in the subregion. 
According to her, the society have active participatoon from members in Ghana,  Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Togo and Burkina Faso. 
According to her, the Golden Jublee celebration is aimed at integrating Basic and Clinical Pharmacology for all round development. 
The society confered Fellows on some highly dedicated Pharmacologists Scholars. 
Earlier in his welcome address, the LOC Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Garba Magaji said this year’s conference is a hybrid one, both in person and virtual participation. 
He said, this has tested their IT competence as organisers and participants. 
According to him, the theme of the conference was chosen to X-ray the prospect and challenges of the field of pharmacology in this era. 
Professor Mohammed expressed appreciations to the LOC members for their doggedness and members of WASP executive and ABU management for making the event a successful one.