The Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka has taken a bold step by beaming its research attention to providing biotherapeutic and biotechnological solutions to the myriads of biosciences and biomedical challenges confronting contemporary society.
Declaring the Faculty’s 4th Bioscience and Biotechnology conference open, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Romanus Ezeokonkwo who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Johnson Urama thanked the Dean for his innovative leadership and prayed that the outcome of the conference will further spur research in the areas of Biotechnology and Biotherapeutics.
He thanked participants for the trust reposed in the University of Nigeria and the Faculty of Biological Sciences of the University, stating that it accounted for the record number of abstracts submitted for the conference.
Also, speaking during the opening ceremony, the Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Emeka I. Nweze, maintained that one of the Faculty’s strategic action plans is to assist the people and government of Nigeria in confronting it’s contemporary challenges as it relates to biomedicals, bioscience and biotechnology.
According to him, this formed the decision of the Faculty to, among other things, title this year’s Faculty conference: “Exploring the frontiers of Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biotherapeutics” to once again channel and concentrate discussions and research directions towards its vision, propelled by a global audience.
He maintained that the quality and focus of the papers received from staff and other participants in preparation for the program is a testimony to the direction of the Faculty in ground breaking research.
According to the Dean, his administration in the last 23 months has consciously attempted to provide the enabling environment for his staff to seamlessly carry out cutting-edge research in their chosen areas of interest.
He welcomed the participants and thanked them for the confidence reposed in the Faculty since the inception of the Bioscience conference series.
Addressing the audience during the opening ceremony of the conference, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Dr. Emmanuel Chekwube Ossai, an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry of the faculty opined that the theme of the conference, the fourth in the series, was aimed at gathering research scholars across the nation and beyond to present their latest research outcomes and advances in relevant fields of bioscience, biotechnology, and biotherapeutics, and to also provide an ideal environment for making new scientific collaborations and knowledge-sharing.
The two-day Faculty of Biological Sciences, UNN conference attracted researchers from across the globe among whom is Professor Umezuruike Linus Okpara of Stellenbosch University South Africa who delivered the keynote address.
Others include Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwu Eke of the Department of Microbiology, Genetics and Immunology, Michigan State University, USA; Professor Okechukwu Abonyi of Alex-Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike; and Chisom Onu of Wayne State University, USA who, respectively, delivered plenary lectures.
The Conference was well attended where about 125 different papers spanning the fields of bioscience, biotechnology, and biotherapeutics were presented, with over 160 registered participants.
The Faculty of Biological Sciencs’ annual conference is held yearly. This year’s event, the 4th of its kind since inception in 2020 was held from Tuesday, July 2nd to Thursday July 4th, 2024. The conference recieved the highest number of abstracts since inception.
