The Nigerian Society for Microbiology (NSM) has called on Nigeria to properly harness its microbial resources to address the problem of soil fertility, tackle hunger, tackle environmental challenges, and ensure a bumper harvest for sustainable food security.
This call was made by the president of the society, Prof. Mohammed Yerima, while speaking during a symposium held at the Kaduna State University (KASU) with the theme, “Microbiology as a panacea for contemporary local issues”.
Yerima explained that microorganisms are easy to grow in the laboratories in larger quantities with many uses, such as food like mushrooms, adding that they have a chemical appetite for hydrocarbons to restore agricultural lands devastated by pollution as a result of oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
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The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Musa, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Prof. Yusha’u Ango, urged the participants to unveil the hidden potentials of the “microscopic wonders” and the positive impact they could have on humanity.
He urged the participants to push for the adoption of the transformative power of microbiology for a healthier, sustainable, and prosperous Nigeria, while advising students of the institution to be innovative and entrepreneurial so as to be self-reliant in view of the high level of unemployment in the country.
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The Managing Director of Police Health Maintenance, Dr. Yusuf Gazali, pointed out on his own that microbes wield significant influence in environmental sustainability, human health, agriculture, and biotechnology.
At the symposium, Prof. Auwalu Uba of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi made a presentation on microbiology as a panacea to contemporary local issues, while Prof. Yusuf Yahaha-Deeni of Federal University Dutse focused on ‘Molecular biology and biotechnology: a role for microbiology’. And Prof. MD Mukthar from Bayero University Kano made a presentation on biomedical laboratories and biohazard communication.