Prof. Ademola Tayo, the Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University says the institution has put together a team of researchers to find treatment for the raging coronavirus pandemic.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday by Mr Joshua Suleiman, the Director of Marketing and Communication of the university to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to the vice-chancellor, the team has submitted research proposals on COVID-19 to relevant government institutions for sponsorship and is waiting for approval.
“Babcock University has put together a team of researchers to find a cure to the raging coronavirus pandemic.
“Our faculties in the departments of public health and agriculture, who are currently researching on COVID-19 have submitted research proposals on it to the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science for sponsorship.
“We also do hope that private universities will be eligible for the Federal Government’s funding for research on COVID-19 vaccine so we can benefit from it,” he said.
Tayo said that there were popular insinuations in some quarters that private universities seemed to have zero failure rate while certificates were being awarded to the highest bidders.
He however flayed such insinuations, saying, “I cannot speak for other universities, but I supposed they don’t also “dash” degrees to students.
“The private university system globally has effective and dynamic instructional mechanisms that make learning interesting and inspiring.
“I dare say that the private university system has contributed a lot to the higher education sector in Nigeria and Africa.
“It is the amazingly interesting atmosphere of teaching and learning, and building a community of scholars and scholarship where lecturers and students relate with each other with mutual respect and comradeship.”
NAN reports that since Feb. 27, when the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, confirmed the index case of COVID-19 disease in Nigeria, the number of conformed cases has increased.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Nigeria’s confirmed COVID-19 cases on Monday May 25 rose to 8,068, while 2,311 persons were discharged and 233 confirmed deaths recorded.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 scourge, with no vaccine yet in sight, Babcock University has now join those looking inward for solution.
