Gombe Varsity hosts African scientists’ seminar
Research fellows from African countries have converged at the Gombe State University for a three week training and research programme. The training organized by the Teaching and Research in Natural Sciences for Development in Africa (TReND) and Cambridge University, United Kingdom is the 7th edition. The organisers said it is to enhance and equip both […]
Research fellows from African countries have converged at the Gombe State University for a three week training and research programme.
The training organized by the Teaching and Research in Natural Sciences for Development in Africa (TReND) and Cambridge University, United Kingdom is the 7th edition.
The organisers said it is to enhance and equip both old and young scientists in Africa, for quality research workforce and facilities, as a means of developing the continent
Speaking at the opening of the programme on ‘Insect Neurosciences and Drosophila Neurogenetics’, the researchers lamented that lack of funding and untrained research workforce, was responsible for the difficulties encountered in conducting research in Africa.
The workshop which is holding for the first time in Nigeria has 27 participants from Malawi, Egypt, and countries. It focuses on a research on fruit fly, as a remedy for the cure of epilepsy.
The Vice Chancellor of the Gombe State University, Prof. Ibrahim Musa Umar, said developing the culture of research as a component for development, was responsible for the giant strides recorded in developed countries of the world.
“It is very important that we start funding research in this country. We need to develop the mind-set and culture,” he said.
Director of TReND in Africa, Dr Lucia Prieto, said: “The model used mostly in Africa are mice and rats to find clinically relevant cure for diseases. However mice and rats are very expensive to manage and difficult to manipulate genetically.
“For this, the school is introducing the use of fruit fly also called Drosophila melanogaster, as an alternative model,” she explained.