Developing Countries Need Global Partnership To Tackle Infectious Diseases- Don

By Oyindamola Ayanbode, Fridaous Adetoye & Eniola Ibidun

Prof. Aaron Aboderin, a lecturer at the Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, yesterday admonished developing countries to put in place basic infrastructure so as to leverage on global partnership for sustainable funding and capacity building for molecular biology.

Aboderin said the partnership will help to mitigate Emerging Infectious Diseases and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases EIDs/RE-EIDs.

The professor stated this while speaking as a guest lecturer at the 2nd Biennial Lecture in honour of Prof. Taiwo Adegboyega Adewole, organised by the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) Collage of Health Sciences, Osogbo, in collaboration with the late Adewole family.

Speaking on the theme: “The Role of Molecular Biology in the Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases in Developing Countries”, Aboderin said leveraging on this rapidly developing field of science, interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral collaboration would be needed going forward, to tackle EIDs/Re-EIDs.

“From the beginning, molecular biology evolved from collaborative effort of different specialties, hence interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral collaboration would be needed going forward to tackle EIDs/Re-EIDs leveraging on this rapidly developing field of science.

“Developing countries should ensure availability of basic infrastructures to leverage on global partners for sustainable funding and capacity building for molecular biology to mitigate EIDs/RE-EIDs.” he said

Speaking on the importance of molecular biology, Prof Aboderin said it is the branch of biology that studies the
molecular basis of biological activities.

“It is the study of how molecules interact with one another in living organisms to perform the functions of life.

“This include the art of investigating the structure, function, processing, regulation and evolution of biological
molecules and their interactions with one anotherproviding micro-level insights into how life works.

“Molecular biology is a large and rapidly expanding field which importance has yet to be fully realized. And many more advances in medicine, agriculture, life
science, security and economy will depend on it going into the future.

Speaking, Vice Chancellor, Osun State University, Prof Odunayo Clement Adebooye described the late Professor as noble man who had impacted many lives while he was alive.

Prof Adebooye said Prof Adewole sojourn in the university was impactful saying his landmark achievements as the pioneer Provost of the College of Health Sciences.

According to the VC , the late Professor worked for five meritorious years in the college and secured its NUC accreditation, before returning to Ladoke Akintola University.

Speaking, wife of the late Professor, Deaconess Mrs. Keji Adewole said her husband was a devoted family man and a loving husband.

She said they organized the lecture in his honour because while he was alive her husband loved to impact on people’s life.

She said: “I feel great and highly fulfilled that at least what my husband lived for is continuing, which means he did not die. When he was alive, he was full of lectures like this, he was full of things that improve the life of humanity.

“He was always working to see improvement in everybody that comes across. Today’s lecture has depicted that. So his legacy is living on it makes me happy.

“Today is exactly the fifth year he left this sinful world I suppose to remember and be crying, but I’m praising God, because the man is still living.

“Look at the caliber of people that gather to celebrate him today for this lecture, is something that most of us that are still living can learn a lesson, we want to make a better life for people that come around us, so that when we leave, people will look back and say, I must be there.

“Many people came from overseas. You know what ticket money is saying today, In spite of that they came because they want to be present today and honor his memory. I Thank God.”

The event featured MBCM Quiz Competition.