Prof Dighitoghi urges Nigerian universities to prioritize RDI through proper funding

Professor of Microbiology, Dauphine Dighitoghi Moro of Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Lagos State University (LASU) has urged Nigerian Universities to give priority attention to Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) through proper funding, exposure, and university grants.

Professor Moro said, “Nigerian universities should give priority attention to Research, Development and Innovations (RDI) through proper funding, exposure, and university grants, which will enhance economic, social and infrastructural development of the country, thus boost internally generated revenue.”

He stated that regular provision of electricity by turning to the use of solar and alternate green energy, potable water, befitting offices, and free internet facilities on campuses would result in increased productivity, adding that University authorities should focus on overcoming their administrative challenges, rather than creating hindrance to peaceful co-existence within the university community.

He went further to state that rigorous interview that bothers on morals and integrity should be used for recruiting academic staff into the universities, establishment of molecular diagnostic biology laboratories in universities for definitive diagnosis of communicable diseases, which would also serve as a source of revenue and monitoring of corruption flash-points in Nigerian University system, and sanctioning of those found guilty appropriately.

Prof Moro urged Nigerian Governments to increase budgetary allocations for education. “Governments should endeavour to increase the education budget substantially to enable the system grow exponentially for national growth and reduce brain drain.

                                                                        “Nigerian Governments should invest adequately in disease monitoring and surveillance so as to minimise the myriads of infections that are endemic in Nigeria.

“Nigeria should frontally venture into the production of vaccines, rather than depending on imported vaccines from variants alien to our ‘domestic’ infections, by engaging medical microbiologists,” he stated.

                                                                            Prof Moro further recommended that the Federal Government should declare a national emergency in the educational sector, with Research grants for tertiary institutions for marketable research outcomes in order to fraternise the currently fragile relationship between town and gown.

He harped on implementation of special new University Salary Structure through an upward review, which he said is long overdue and which he disclosed would give University workers living wages.

Moro added “Governments should protect our environment against the careless and nonchalant attitude of our industries and empower regulatory agencies to ensure compliance by effecting penalties for breaches in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).”

In conclusion, Prof Moro stated that Microorganisms are anywhere and everywhere as they can survive even in extreme environments which are very difficult or too hostile for other organisms including human beings to survive, and this appears as a mystery to humanity. He said, “The normal flora perform special functions by occupying specific niches in and on our body surfaces by warding off pathogens and simultaneously amplifying the effectiveness of our immune system. Life itself would therefore be meaningless where these advantages derivable only from microbes are unavailable.

                                                                      “The substantial threat posed to man and public health by multiple drug resistant microbes may result in several epidemics and pandemics, with attendant high death rates and usual economic catastrophe, like bubonic plague, measles and quite lately, the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

He added that man in his genuine attempts at eradicating microbial diseases has made positive attempts at controlling and preventing most infections by the production and use of vaccines. Nanoparticles are a potential tool to combat multidrug resistant bacteria, by targeting specific microbial pathogens. Proper use of antimicrobial agents in man and animals, with antimicrobial stewardship may greatly reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance, promote responsible antibiotic use, monitor resistance patterns and develop effective treatment guidelines for communicable diseases globally.

Adding, he said, Microorganisms are a-two-edged-sword, which offers immense benefits as well as posing significant risks. “Their importance should be appreciated, their potential should be harnessed and strategies developed to mitigate the risks associated with pathogenic microbes. With this, a healthier relationship between man and microorganisms that will ultimately benefit both our health and the environment can be achieved,” Prof Moro stated.