Commissioner for Youth and Development in Lagos State commends LASU CESAR at OMNIVERSE Africa 2.0
The OMNIVERSE AFRICA 2.0 event held at Landmark Event Centre with the theme “Unified by Vission and Empowered by Collaboration” which started on Tuesday 25th February 2025, came to a close on Friday, 28th February 2025 with Lagos State University Centre of Excellence for Sargassum receiving encomiums from the dignitaries, researchers, experts, and other guests who graced the summit.
The Commissioner for Youth and Development in Lagos State Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende one of the special guests at the closing ceremony of the 2nd edition of the Omniverse Africa Summit, visited the Lagos State University Centre of Excellence for Sargassum, (CESAR) exhibition stand and was happy to see the Lagos State Government owned university at the summit and commended the university for promoting the frontier of excellence in research. The Commissioner, who was in the company of the co-convener of the Omniverse 2.0 Mr Charles Emembolu and other numerous eminent guests, was taken round the sargasum stand to see products already in display by the Centre Research Secretary, Dr. Morounke Saibu and Deputy Registrar/Administrative Secretary CESAR Ms Temitope Scott. Some of the exhibited products include the Federal Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology Expo 2023 award winning saga feeds for animals (grasscutter, fish, chicken, pig, rabbit) with approved trade mark and copyright and other products like; cream, soap, alginate, catfish oil, ceiling board etc.
The major highlight of the event was the special presentation by the Director Centre of Excellence for Sargassum Research, Lagos State University Prof. Benjamin Aribisala on behalf of the Lagos State Research Innovation Council (LASRIC). The presentation, which was handled by Dr. Morounke Saibu explained how the Centre came about, secured grant from LASRIC to carry out researches, the problems it intended to solve, the research breakthroughs achieved viz a viz the animal feeds, cream, catfish oil secrum, soap, trademark and copyright, partnership with local farmers, collaborations with industries, research Institutes, funding and culturing of sargassum weeds.
The presentation, which took place at the designated Digital Transformation Room, was witnessed by hundreds of participants, experts, researchers, academics, SMES, students, and other attendees. Notable among the audience are: Vice Chancellor Enugu State University of Science and Technology Prof. Aloysious Michael Okolie, Director General National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria Dr. Kabir Muazu, member LASRIC Dr. Peter Bankole, Coordinator, LASRIC Secretariat Mr Alani Lateef, CESAR Research Fellow Dr. (Mrs) Iyabo Philips and many other guests.
During the presentation, the Centre registered its sincere appreciation to LASRIC for funding and, in the same vein, acknowledged and appreciated the Vice Chancellor Lagos State University Prof. Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello mni, NPOM for her unflinching support to the centre and for providing purposeful leadership in the university.
Earlier on Thursday, 27th February 2025 , Prof. Benjamin Aribisala, Director CESAR who led the LASU CESAR team to the Omniverse Africa 2.0, had robust engagement with several business owners, farmers, NGOs, researchers, entrepreneurs etc who visited the CESAR exhibition stand on how to collaborate on sargassum products and deepen a win win situation that will be beneficial to everyone
Other CESAR team representatives at the event include Ms. Victoria Olatunji, Administrative Officer CESAR, Mrs Blessing Nwatulegwu, PhD research student at CESAR, Mr Ademola Adekoya, Deputy Registrar/Media Officer CESAR.
