UB, Nigerian university sign MoU to boost research in infectious diseases, genomics.

The MoU was signed Thursday January 26, 2023 at the boardroom of the faculty of science of the University of Buea.

It was signed by Prof Ngomo Horace Manga, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea and Prof Anthony Enisan Akinlo, Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer's University on behalf of their respective institutions. The MoU will enable the University of Buea’s Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, LEID-UB, and the Redeemer's University’s African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, ACEGID, to exchange knowledge and expertise on the issue of genomics and the application of its tools in Cameroon.

Addressing stakeholders before the signing of the MoU, Professor Ngomo Horace Manga, thanked the hierarchy of the Redeemer’s University for choosing his institution, which will enable researchers and scientists in UB, share and gain knowledge and expertise with their Nigerian brothers in genomics and related research. This has been amply developed at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, ACEGID, at Redeemer’s University.

He thus assured Redeemer’s University of UB’s commitment to meet up with expectations in the MoU.

The partnership enables academics and research scientists on diverse topics not limited to bioinformatics as well as support the provision of quality assurance for genomics training, amongst others.

To promote South-South cooperation…

On his part, the Vice Chancellor of Redeemer's University, Prof Anthony Enisan Akinlo, said the MoU was part of their goal to promote South-South cooperation, skill development and transfer of competence. As the best private university in Nigeria, the Vice Chancellor said their interest was to promote excellence in other institutions.

Speaking to the press after signing the MoU, Prof Enisan expressed joy that Cameroonian scientists will benefit from their Nigerian counterparts to be ready and able to advise the government for the next outbreak anywhere in the country.

“…A lot of knowledge and the skills involved in genomics and knowledge of infectious diseases has been developed by the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, ACEGID, and we believe that if those skills are transmitted to Cameroonian scientists, whenever we have an emergence or occurrence of a disease or pandemic in Cameroon, those who have those skills will be best placed to advise government on decisions to take. Thus, government will take decisions based on the recommendations of scientists,'' he said.

Matching excellence with excellence

On his part Prof Christian Happi, head of the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, ACEGID, said choosing UB was because of their desire to match excellence with excellence by sharing and gaining knowledge from UB.

“UB is a known centre of excellence, so being a centre of excellence, we need to match with a centre of excellence. The overall aim of the MoU is for an exchange and knowledge transfer,” he said.

“We are a reference centre and we believe our knowledge can be transferred here, but we are also willing to learn from the University of Buea,” Prof Happi noted.

The African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, ACEGID, comprises a consortium of West African, academic and medical institutions, with major aims to narrow the gap in the deficit of skilled personnel and adequate tools for research and innovation to address Africa's challenge. The Centre, which partners with the World Health Organisation, WHO, and the United States Food and Drug Administration, is renowned for developing the first Ebola Virus Rapid Diagnostic Test for Emergency use in 2015.

The Centre has also been designated by WHO and the African Centre for Disease Control, ACDC, as one of Africa's reference laboratories for genomics and sequencing of COVID-19 and other emerging pathogens.

The signing of the MoU was witnessed by H. E Manga Bessem Elizabeth, the Consul General of Cameroon to Nigeria and H.E. Lawal Bappah, the Consul General of Nigeria to the North West and South West Regions.