‘Research, Key To Better Health National Dev’

Rivers State Head of Service, Barrister Rufus Godwins, has underscored the need for more research to end disease pandemics and other health related challenges in the country.
He gave the recommendation while delivering the 39th and 40th Convocation lecture of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) , yesterday in Port Harcourt.
Barrister Godwins who spoke on the topic, “Nigerian Universities and the Challenges of National Development” noted that the recent Covid-19 pandemic that ravaged the world uncovered the nations near absence of research in the face of a threatening health situation.
The HOS submitted that universities should be centres of research to help the nation confront any health challenge, but that last year it failed because there was nothing on ground.
Godwins reasoned that the efforts made by academics in the University of Oxford England by Prof. Sarah Gilbert and her team to produce the Astra Zeneca vaccine should serve as a lesson for government and corporate bodies to fund health related research.
He added, “to date it is estimated that two billion dozes of the Covid-19 vaccine, developed by Oxford University and Astra Zeneca have been released to more than 170 countries, including Nigeria.”
The Head of Service advocated for the use of university in making and implementing the nations policies and programmes, arguing that failure to do so will only lead to stagnation.
Urging the nation to learn from the Covid-19 pandemic, Godwins observed that the shortcomings witnessed should spur researchers to evolve effective methods to improve health of the citizenry.
He carpeted the use of politicians in areas that require technocrats and experts, such as those in health related fields, as this can strengthen the system and better health care.
Against this backdrop, he challenged both government and private bodies to improve their funding to universities, to boost research that will contribute to society and better the lives of the people.

By: Kevin Nengia