The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) and Chairman, Action Committee on the Promotion of University Biomedical Science Development (PUBSD), Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, on Wednesday, 23 October, 2013, launched the Biomedical Science Development Portal,which would serve as a link among universities and host research findings on Biomedical Science in Nigeria.

Launching the portal, during a twoday workshop for the Action Committee on the PUBSD, the Executive Secretary stated that, when functional, it would, not only provide access to world-class research findings, but also encourage joint research proposals and widen the scope of researchers in Biomedical Science. He added that the portal would also enhance resource sharing in the Nigerian University System (NUS) and serve as a guide for the implementation of Biomedical research findings as well as encourage the accreditation of Biomedical programmes.

Professor Okojie observed that the level of interaction among the six initial participating universities (University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Benin,Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; University of Ilorin, University of Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka) would develop a good outcome for the system. He promised that NUC would support the project for the overall benefit of the system and maintained that funding was not the major challenge of the NUS but rather the judicious utilisation of allocated funds. He noted that the pioneer universities were privileged to have been chosen and advised them to justify their selection.

The Executive Secretary emphasised that the relevance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the advancement of knowledge could not be overemphasised, as interconnectivity and visibility on the globe were preconditions for international ranking. He promised that NUC would utilise the outcome of the workshop, to develop and promote the programme, to actively engage Nigerian Biomedical scientists in their different institutions.

The National Co-ordinator, Professor Eugene Okpere, disclosed that the programme became necessary, following the dwindling nature of Biomedical research in Nigeria, noting that the workshop would boost research in the NUS. He said that the portal would help members to upload research findings that would serve as data for others in Biomedical Science.

Several far-reaching decisions were made at the end of the workshop, some of which included:

• Encouraging collaborative interdisciplinary research among Nigerians, so as to generate high quality research that would be accepted internationally;Boosting Biomedical research in Nigerian universities, through the enhancement of international recognition so as to improve Nigeria’s world ranking;

• Populating the database for domestic/ foreign scientists for a greater international recognition and global rating;

• Encouraging Vice-Chancellors to continue to support Biomedical research ;

• Providing a maximum of 15 relevant publications per members for easy access by interested collaborators on the web-portal;

• Encouraging participating universities to identify specific multi-disciplinary Biomedical research proposals that could involve foreign collaborators;

• Ensuring that membership of the
local PUBSD Committee is spread to all relevant disciplines/departments;

• Expanding the tenure of the university central working committee to three years, renewable for another three years;

At the event were the International Co-ordinator, PUBSD Proessor. Joseph Igietseme, from the Centre for Disease Control, USA; Deputy Director, Postgraduate Accreditation, Dr. Modupe Adeniran; NUC Co-ordinator of the programme, Dr. Chinelo Nwosu and representatives of some universities.

Na today? Waste of funds and resources.