The University of Ilorin, through its research and intervention on health and socio-economic development has discovered a potential cure for cancer.
Sulyman Age Abdulkareem, a professor of Chemical Engineering and the Vice Chancellor of the University disclosed this on Wednesday at the 35th convocation ceremony of the institution.
The discovery according to him was made by Joseph Obaleye, a professor at the department of Chemistry.
The Vice Chancellor says: “Our desire to make the University an academic hub of discovery, learning and innovation is being manifested in the myriad of concrete and notable innovations, inventions and breakthroughs emanating from the various research efforts of many of our dedicated scholars.
“Many of the innovations had been patented for commercial values that will soon put the name of the University on the zenith of fame and recognition.
“Such inventions, which are meant to solve some of our national and global critical problems, include the discovery that could be developed further as a potential cure for cancer.”
Abdulkareem, also said that the breakthrough in Genomics/Biotechnology by Mo Kolawole, a professor at Department of Microbiology and the Director of the Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, would facilitate the much-needed portability, affordability, low voltage consumption, on-site view of standard DNA marker and two sources of illumination for better result presentations and recording with a third battery-operated LED light that will help in improving health-care delivery.
Similarly, the invention of a Teacher Led Vision Screener (TELVIS) device for the detection of sight challenges in children by Dupe Ademola-Popoola, a medical Doctor at the College of Health Sciences; he says has been patented.
“More interestingly, our health experts led by Munirudeen Ijaiya, a professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology developed a new vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) treatment in the late 2018.
“This, indeed, is a breakthrough, which is a further revalidation of what we stand for and the height we aspire to reach.”
The VC says the report explained that the technique was predicated by the growing cases of female reproductive health challenges as a result of the appalling and increasing incident of VVF which particularly prevented in third world countries.
Stating that, the prevalence of VVF among women of different ages has become a clear reflection of the poor obstetric initiative and general backward health-care culture among the people of various developing countries including Nigeria.
Abdulkareem said that the University’s Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology is making waves in collaborative research, saying “It is currently supporting research on the optimisation of the bio-floaculants for water treatment interventions via studying the synergistic and antagonistic effect of the producers, especially in particular relation to Oyun, Asa and Agba Rivers in Ilorin.”
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
