Dev-Afrique Development Advisors has donated 4.8KW solar power backup for the Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The support, which covers the cost of the solar panels, mounting racks, circuit breakers, cables, and installation, aims to support academic research on molecular biology.
Shittu Adebayo, the founder of the Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, noted that the laboratory was established in January 2023 and is one of the first in Nigeria.
He said its goal is to equip students at Obafemi Awolowo University and other tertiary institutions with state-of-the-art equipment for researching pathogen infections to prevent epidemiological outbreaks.
This initiative comes as Nigeria needs to focus on utilizing its human and capital resources to become self-sufficient in handling emergency outbreaks.
Nkem Torimiro, the Head of the Department, and Professor Bridget Omafuvbe thanked Dev-Afrique for their commitment and contribution. They highlighted that this donation will enable the department to meet local and international demand and provide students with the much-needed resources to conduct research. Professor Shittu also mentioned that the support will ensure an uninterrupted power supply, allowing for game-changing antibiotic resistance research in Nigeria.
Ridwan Sorunke, the Principal Advisor at Dev-Afrique, noted that “this donation of solar panels to Obafemi Awolowo University is in line with Dev-Afrique’s commitment to promoting and developing local talents in science, technology, and innovation. With this donation of solar panels for scientific research, we hope the University continues to drive scientific research and innovation.”
Barakat Tiamiyu, Consultant and Communication and Sustainability Lead at Dev-Afrique, also reiterated during a meeting at the laboratory that donating to the molecular bacteriology laboratory is Dev-Afrique’s enduring commitment to promoting research and innovation for public health.
