Presentation on biotechnology by prof bn okolo

By Professor B.N. OkoloVice Chancellor

And Professor Jerry Ugwuanyi

Coordinator

Salutation

…Warm greetings from the University of Nigeria-The cradle of university education in Nigeria

The Background

• The Federal Government of Nigeria applied to UNESCO for the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Biotechnology, to be domiciled at the University of Nigeria.

• This center is expected to be a regional center for West Africa and also serve other parts of Africa.

Our Mission

• To inform you, as important stakeholders in the region, of this initiative.

• To solicit your support at the UNESCO Council Meeting for the approval of the proposal to UNESCO, for the establishment of the Center at the University of Nigeria.

Our Delivery Plan

• The Founding of the University of Nigeria• UNN Growth Profile• Our Accomplishments• Research & Development Landmarks• Our Strengths• Our Pride• Some Current Collaborations• Campus Tour• Our Concept

Our Delivery Plan can only be explained with some historical background and structure of UNN, viz-a-viz;

The Founding of the University of Nigeria

• The University of Nigeria was founded 50 years ago and is, thus, Nigeria’s oldest University.

• This idea was that of Nigeria’s first indigenous president, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, who studied at Lincoln University (Pennsylvania, USA).

• UNN was designed after the American-style land grant university, based on a blueprint from Michigan State University (MSU).

The Founding of the University of Nigeria (cont’d)

• The founder of the University aimed at relating its activities to the social & economic needs and day-to-day lives of the people of Africa.

• And so, the courses of study at UNN were devised to enable our youth rediscover themselves & dedicate their lives anew to the building of a new nation.

• Particularly in the fields of Agriculture, Engineering, Home Science, Business Administration, Environmental Sciences, Law & Education.

The University: Philosophy, Motto & Vision

Philosophy: To seek Truth, teach Truth and preserve Truth.

Motto: To Restore the Dignity of Man.

Vision Statement: To create a functional, Globally competitive &

research-focused University which is not just an Ivory Tower, but responsive to the needs of the society, while delivering World-class education and Knowledge.

Our Growth Profile

• Student population has grown from 220 in 1960 to over 35,000.

• Academic staff have grown from less than 100 in 1960 to about 1,700.

• Number of faculties has grown from 2 to 16.

• While the number of departments has grown from 6 in 1960 to 106, plus 5 sub-departments.

Our Growth Profile (continued)

• In addition, we have 10 academic institutes/centres, a school of postgraduate studies and a school of general studies.

• Number of campuses has grown from 1 to 4.

• We currently offer 212 postgraduate programmes.

• About 5,000 undergraduate students earn degrees each year from the University of Nigeria.

Accomplishments

• Our history is full of accomplishments for which we are proud.

• Our alumni continue to excel in national professional examinations in fields of law, medicine, engineering, accountancy, etc.

• This reflects the standard of training we offer.

Accomplishments (continued)

• Such excellence is often repeated in the diaspora, where our alumni shine bright as postgraduate students, employees or entrepreneurs.

• Many of our alumni also grow to become captains of industry even in the diaspora.

Research & Development Landmarks

• Development of a cholera vaccine.

• Development of the menu for malting of Sorghum for the production of confectionaries and alcoholic beverages.

• Discovery of a raw starch-digesting amylase.

• Discovery of an alternative to hops for use in beer brewing.

• Breeding of new crop varieties (tomatoes, pepper, solanium, green beans, etc.)

Research & Development Landmarks (continued)

• Micro-propagation of endangered food and medicinal plants for conservation.

• Development of tissue culture protocols for propagation of under-utilized forest species for domestication.

• Discovery of drug for managing diabetes, sickle cell anaemia and asthma.

• Discovery of an anti-snake venom.

Research & Development Landmarks (continued)

• Invention of a drug-testing kit.

• Invention of machines for the processing of local foods, e.g. peeling of cassava, shelling of melon and rice, etc.

• Pioneered the village adoption scheme in agricultural extension.

• Over 30 other inventions awaiting commercialisation.

Our Strengths

• Innovations in Biotechnology• Agricultural Sciences (Agronomy, Extension, etc)• Economics, Sociology and Anthropology.• African Studies.• Creative Arts (Music, Drama, Pure & Applied

Arts).• Drug discovery and formulation from African

Bio-diversity.• Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tropical Medicine and

Public Health.

Our Pride

• We pride ourselves of being a legacy institution & have a record of producing leaders. Examples include:

o The current Vice President of World Bank (African Region – Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili).

o Chinua Achebe; the author of “Things Fall Apart”.o Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie; Renowned writer.o Three serving State Governors.o Two serving Ministers.o A number of Federal and State Legislators.o The past Governor of the Central Bank.

Support Facilities

Largest library & library holding of any Nigerian

University

Modern electronic/ digital library facilities and vast

online resources

83 room full service International Scholars village (ISV)

60 room guest house on campus

High quality & reliable municipal services

High speed ubiquitous wired and wireless university-

wide internet access

Some Current Collaborations

Institutions Field

African Technology Policy Studies Network, Kenya -

University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK Several

North Dakota State University, USA Several

University of South Florida, Tampa (cooperative agreement universal consortium on landslides)

History, Sociology and Anthropology

New York State University at Oswego Entrepreneurship

Kenesaw State University, Atlanta, GA, USA STEM (Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics), Early Childhood Education and Nursing

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel Agricultural Sciences

University of Tsukuba, Japan Life Sciences

Some Current Collaborations (continued)

Institutions Field

Bridgewater State University, Boston, USA Technology, Staff and Student Exchanges

University of Maryland, USA Bio-sciences, Medical Sciences and Nursing

Michigan State University, USA -

University of Nottingham, UK Veterinary Medicine

University of Pittsburgh, USA Public Health

University of Hokkaido, Japan Life Sciences

University of Delph, Netherlands Electronic Engineering

A Brief Tour of the University (main campus)

Our Biotechnology Centre

The North Entrance to the University

South Access Road to the University

The Main Drive Way into Nsukka Campus

The Lion Triangle

A Typical Street Within the Main Campus

The Hilly Landscape of Nsukka Campus

The New Nnamdi Azikiwe Library

A Section of the interior of the New Library

An Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory

Faculty of Arts building

Inside the Faculty of Arts Complex

Fine & Applied Arts Sculptors

Faculty of Engineering

Faculty of Engineering (labs)

Faculty of Engineering (auditorium)

Faculty of Law (Enugu Campus)

Margareth Ekpo dining hall

Female accommodation hall

Evening shot of female accommodation hall

Road leading to Freedom Square

Freedom Square Roundabout

List of Centers, Schools and Institutes

Centres Schools and InstitutesCentre for Energy Research and Development School of General Studies

Center for Rural Development & Cooperatives School of Post Graduate Studies

Center for Entrepreneurial and Development Research.

Institute of Developmental Studies

Center for Basic Space Research Institute of Education

Center for Innovation &Technology Incubation

Institute of African Studies

Curriculum Development and Instructional Materials Center

Centre of Technical Vocational Education and Research

The Institute of African Studies

Center for Innovation and Technology Incubation

Continuing Education Center (CEC)

School of Post Graduates

The Postgraduate Hostel

The Senior Staff Club

The University Stadium (Under construction)

Administration Blocks

The New Administration block (rear)

The New Administration block (Front)

PROPOSAL

CONCEPT AND OPERATION OF THE

BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTRE OF

EXCELLENCE

University of Nigeria

International Institute for Biotechnology. A UNESCO Category II Centre of Excellence

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

Improving Biotechnology Education and

Practice in (West) Africa by Leveraging

UNESCO Goodwill.

Presented to

National Delegations of West Africa to UNESCO

17th December 2010

UNESCO Headquarters, Paris

Funding the Institute• Public Sector funding from the government of Nigeria• Public sector contributions from collaborating national

governments (staff secondment, donation)• Contributions from the University of Nigeria• Contributions from Collaborating institution (staff

secondment, equipment placement and use-where-is basis, etc) A

• Grant in aid, research grants, contract research and international donor agencies, global competitive grants

• Contributions from Biotech Industries in form of contract and commercial research, CSR donation

• Incubation facility and commercialization• Goodwill donations (subject to Board control)• Donations from international and multilateral bodies

Services to Research /Industry • Teaching; own & visiting postdoctoral & doctoral researchers and scholars

• Scheduled international conferences, seminars & webinars

• International & Structured workshops in advanced biotech

• International Master of Biotech programs in collaboration with Universities. Collaborative multi-location PhD research

• Base for implementation of grant funded cutting edge research/

• Bench space for fee

• Educational and training activities to transfer knowledge in biotechnology

• Undertake research, scientific Investigation & development in collaboration with relevant research centres in the region & beyond

Services to Research /Industry• Mentoring for young researchers & new techniques training

• Capacity building, non-certificate training for industries to address felt needs

• Contract research for industry

• Provision of specialist top end research facilities

• Collection & provision of globally available information/ establishment of data

bank

• Collection and dissemination, through networking of relevant local knowledge

• Dissemination of outcomes of research activities through publications & other

media

• Promote collaborative research and networking in specific areas of

biotechnology

• Enhance exchange and mobility of scientists at the regional and supra-regional

levels

Services to Governments

• Work with collaborating institutions and intergovernmental agencies to

provide expert advice in biotechnology policies

• Collaborate in Conduct of specialized/ classified investigations

• Provide international, general and specialised culture collection & gene

banks

• Related Biotechnology Education: Train & retrain staff

• Other services related to centre mandate and sector SPO

• Control and reduce drain of quality manpower from the region

Institutional Focus

• Food Security through advanced biotechnology (crop,

animal and microbial biotechnology related to food

production and improvement)

• Tropical disease research

– Bioresources management and gene banking &

culture collection (Microbial, plant and animal/

tissue)

– Conservation / environmental research related to

the above

Food Security Research

• Sustainable exploitation of bioresources and biomass• Regional facility for culture collection/ gene banking• Development of high yielding, adaptable and resistant

varieties suited for the region to serve food/ forestry/ pharma (eye on global environmental change effects on food productivity)

• Mass propagation of endangered tropical plants with potential for bioactive compounds and nutritional value (e.g. protein sweetners)

• Containment facilities for progeny testing• Advisory functions to government on related matters

Tropical Diseases Research• Treatment/ control & eradication strategies for

major tropical diseases• Cell and tissue culture for the rapid screening of

active compounds• Research & development of biotech vaccines

against tropical diseases • Characterisation & formulation of active

compounds into suitable dosage forms • *Developments in this field will take place in the

region where the problems exist

Tropical Diseases Research

• Refine traditional control methods & develop

new ones

• Work with tertiary medical facilities to develop &

test new treatment strategies

• Explore & exploit available biodiversity in the

region based on environmentally sustainable

strategies

Basic Operational Zone

Target Collaborators

• Universities in the West African (over 200 universities have some form of biotech activity or other) and other Regions of Africa

• National Research Institutes in the regions (government owned and controlled institutes with biotechnology activity as whole or part of the mandate)

• International Institutes in the regions (e.g. IITA, ILRI) and beyond (multilaterally owned and controlled institutes and centres, e.g., ICGEB labs).

• South – South Institutes, Multilateral and other International institutes active in Biotech research

• Independent institutes with biotechnology expertise

Structure for Cooperation

FMST

FMH FMA&WR

NABDA &Special

agencies

Universities & inter-University centres

BiotechEstablishment UNNUNESCO

FGN

CAT II

Governments,International

Universities & Institutes, Industry,

Multilaterals,others

Governance, Organisation & Structure• Independent of government / university in day to day

pursuit of mandate• International trust council or Governing Board as for

similar UNESCO supported facilities responsible for centre’s funding & strategic focus, international status, terms of collaboration etc.

• Independent Local Management Council- Centre day to day scientific activities and project implementation.

• UNESCO will be involved in all critical events (workshops, conferences, trainings, seminars and other international events)

• Periodic report to UNESCO on all activities of the centre• Hope to get some level of UNESCO funding support in the

conduct of approved activities

Proposed: Structure for OperationGovernance and Control• Governing Board (highest authority): Include international experts /

enthusiasts, from across the region and beyond and to include critical stakeholders (organizations and governments)

• The Board shall have powers for all aspects of administration and control (budget, work plan, finances, approval of internal control and terms of collaboration/ MOUs)

• Board members to contribute directly/indirectly to centre activities and policies. Capacity to attract international goodwill and funding will be critical

Local Management (include unit heads & team leaders)• The Executive Committee (University and Board action to appoint)• Day-to-day management of the Centre (to be headed by the Director) in

consultation with the BoardThe Programme Advisory Committee (Honorary?)• To provide technical advice for planning, execution, review and

monitoring of the scientific programme of the centreThe Secretariat • To execute the day-to-day activities of the Centre (Director and staff)• Board shall appoint Director

Basic Management Model

International Board

Director Research management Support management

Finance/Admin.

External Relation/ICT

Safety Services and works

Food Security Group

Tropical Diseases Group

Bioresouces Management

Environ. Conservation

Publications

Other services

Service to the Region & Beyond• Promote biotechnology research that address regional challenges• Create and reinforce networks for exchange of scientific, technical

and policy information• Develop and coordinate collaborative and cooperative research

by specifically harnessing regional competences in a single block• Organise knowledge transfer and sharing activities with regional

emphasis• Promote capacity building at regional levels• Create a hub and network of biotech experts in the region• Work to develop a network of satellite centres in the

region• Plug into and advance bases for South – South

cooperation in biotechnology

Prospects and Sustainability

• Government funding• International goodwill• University support• Industry support• Commercial research/ consultancy• Marketable products & services / project

incubation• Fees, charges and sundry income

THANKS FOR LISTENING

Presentation on biotechnology by prof bn okolo

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