On May 1st, 2019, the University of Lagos was honoured to be selected as one of 13 awardees from around the world to receive scientific equipment from Seeding Labs’ 2019 Instrumental Access program.
The Instrumental Access program makes high-quality laboratory equipment and supplies available to university departments and research institutes in developing countries, under the flagship program of Seeding Labs, a US-based non-profit organization aimed at empowering scientists across the world.
This year, the Centre for Biodiversity, Conservation and Ecosystem Management (CEBCEM), University of Lagos was selected for Instrumental Access Award 2019, from a pool of 46 applications received from 22 countries, through a rigorous and competitive selection process. Each applicant outlined the ways that an infusion of modern scientific equipment would remove barriers to research and education at their institution—paving the way for them to participate as equals in the global community of scientists and to use the power of science to solve problems for their communities.
Some of the equipment include rotary evaporators, microtomes, freezers of various sizes and capacities, film holds, PCR Apparatus, etcetera and consumables, which are awarded to advance scientific research and teaching in the University.
The 2019 Instrumental Access awardees specialize in disciplines from across the biological and chemical sciences. Their diverse research interests include infectious diseases, personalized medicine, food safety, biofuels, communication disorders, water quality, herbal medicines, agriculture, and textile manufacturing.
Nine countries are represented, including two which are new to Seeding Labs: Eswatini and the Republic of Congo.
The Centre for Biodiversity, Conservation, and Ecosystem Management (CEBCEM), University of Lagos, under the Directorship of Professor Bola Oboh, was established in 2018 with the aim of mitigating threats to global, biological, and cultural diversity and expanding knowledge on biodiversity and providing leadership in conservation, sustainability, and environmental biology.
The announcement of the 2019 Instrumental Access awardees was made known during Seeding Labs’ annual “Positively Instrumental” event held on May 1, 2019, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, which celebrated the power of global science.
It is worthy to note that the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos was one of the recipients of the award in 2017.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS, on behalf of the staff, students and the entire University community congratulates the Centre on this feat.
