Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello, has tasked African researchers to explore new initiatives that would foster the conversion of results and findings to solving problems and improving the lives of people on the continent.

Governor Bello, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Ahmed Ketso, made the call during the opening ceremony of the 10th‎ Federation of African Societies of Bio-chemistry and Molecular Biology in Minna, the capital of Niger State in north-central Nigeria.

At the conference tagged ‘Bio-chemistry and Molecular Biology: Challenges and Prospects for Africa’s Sustainable Development in the 21st Century,’ the governor called for a synergy between Private, State and Federal Universities for quality products and services.

“I challenge you to explore new initiatives towards advancing ways of converting research results and findings to solving problems in new ways, such that we can guarantee improvement of lives of our people on the continent.

“We need to encourage synergy between our Privates, States and Federal Universities in terms of focus, quality of the products and services. We could adopt the strategic development of universities along areas of specialisation, such that each institution can be identified with specific expertise while strengthening leakages with similar institutions either locally or internationally.”

Governor Bello further told the gathering that the government was aware of scare resources ‎as research capacity was pricey.

He said: “The resources for scientific research are becoming extremely scarce, personnel training and equipment for institutional research capacity building is pricey.

“However, we will be able to properly deploy resources in establishing the best institutions that will serve specific needs of industry, so as to reduce the production of unemployable graduates.”

The Chairman of the event and pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Professor Jonathan Ndagi, urged participants to ensure that their researches were published.

The President of the Nigerian Society of Bio-chemistry and Molecular Biology (NSBMB), Professor Obi Njoku, said the theme of the conference was apt and came at a time where different professions in Africa were making impact on sustainable development. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Gov. Bello.

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