Orogbu: Why I recommitted to Awba-Ofemili University of Agriculture - NaijaAgroNet

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The member representing Awka North/South in the Federal House of Representatives, Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu, has explained why she recommitted to the bill for the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture, Awba-Ofemili, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Orogbu in her motion Wednesday in Abuja, called for the recommittal of the Bill to the Committee of the whole to fast-rack it’s passage.

University of Agric Awba-Ofemili: House of Reps hold public hearing - NaijaAgroNet

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The Federal House of Representatives on Monday, April 11, 2022, held a public hearing on the proposed bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Agriculture Awba-Ofemili in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The bill is being sponsored by Hon. Sam Chinedu Onwuaso, NaijaAgroNet, took another progressive turn as the House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions held a public hearing for the proposed bill in line with the processes of legislation.

Mandela University Abuja breaks through with cancer treatment

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Just 17 years after Nelson Mandela sold the dream of a state of the art institution to drive Africa’s advancement in science and technology to former World Bank President Jim Wolfenssohn, the Abuja-based institution inspired by Mandela dream is making strong strides in the battle against cancer, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Three students of the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, whose Board Chair is Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and President is Professor Kingston Nyamapfene, have in separate research efforts come up with very promising findings that are likely to make a difference in the global search for a cure to the deadly disease.

The studies include the work of Kwabena Kan-Dapaah on “Implantable Composite Devices for the Localised Treatment of Breast Cancer”; John David Obayemi’s work on Nano- Particles For Breast Cancer Detection And Treatment and Salifu T. Azeko’s work which was centred on “Biodegradation among others.

These efforts are in addition to the widely reported groundbreaking discovery in cancer treatment by a young Sierra-Leonian female student of African University of Science and Technology, Sandra Musujusu. Musujusu is developing an alternative treatment for a subtype of breast cancer commonly found in black women.

According to the student: “My research is actually centered on the development of biodegradable polymers for treatment of breast cancer… I will be focusing on triple negative breast cancer, which is actually the aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is common with women from African ancestry.”

The Sierra Leone native’s research was unveiled in July last year  when World Bank director Jaime Saavedra Chanduvi visited the Nigerian school as a part of his assessment tour of the 10 African Centers of Excellence locations, funded to encourage research to benefit African countries facing problems.

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Plant breeding researcher wins lifetime achiever award

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The University of the Free State (UFS) researcher, Prof. Maryke Labuschagne, known for her research on plant breeding has received a country lifetime achiever award for Africa’s most influential women in business and government programme, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Labuschagne’s research dwells on the genetic improvement of food security crops in Africa, including staples such as maize and cassava.

“These crops are genetically improved for yield, disease and insect resistance and nutritional value. Food security is one of the key factors for stability on the continent,” said Labuschagne while adding that it was good to have one’s work recognized.

The award was given to Labuschagne during the most influential women breakfast at the Vodacom Dome in Midrand on July 28.

An NRF-rated researcher and author or co-author of more than 160 articles in accredited journals, her research is helping to provide food for thousands of people on the African continent.

In 2008, she was also chosen as the National agriculturalist of the year by the Agricultural Writers Association of South Africa. In 2012, she received the researcher of the year award from Grain South Africa and the AU’s Kwame Nkrumah science award for life sciences on the continent.

The country lifetime achiever award is a prestigious award that recognizes and honours the lifelong efforts, achievements and contributions by individuals in their local communities.

This recognition covers all sectors and countries to create a platform where the work and involvement of extraordinary people can be displayed and noted.

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 PIX: Prof. Maryke Labuschagne

University don invents yam tubers growth regulators

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A senior lecturer, Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, at the University of Ibadan (UI) Dr. Monrufat Balogun, has invented a technology for the production of Dormancy-Controlled Yam Seed Tubers reports NaijaAgroNet.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the technology is not a genetic modification and had no zero detection of plant-growth regulator, which would ensure increased availability of yam seedlings to all yam farmers to allow them, cultivate yams for more than one cycle.

"We want to see how yams can be grown anytime in the year and not necessarily only at the season.This technology would yield more income for farmers,” she said.

The expert speaking on assurance of the technology to the growth of the agricultural sector also said the research started in November 2014 and took two years to perfect it.

“We soak the tubers in some substances that are called ‘Growth Regulators’. After this, we check whether there is difference in sprouting between the ones soaked and the ones not soaked. After checking the tubers at the lab we found out that zero amounts of the substances were detected, so it is safe and people should not fear.” Balogun said.

She also said they are planning on training all stakeholders in yam production and consumption on this new technology.

The invention, NaijaAgroNet learnt, was in collaboration with Prof. Wayne Curtis of the Pennsylvania State University, under the United States National Academies-partnership for Enhanced Engagement in Research, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and would be fully out by 2016.

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220 varsities, FAO join hands on food security in Latin America, Caribbean

Over 220 universities joined the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to expand learning opportunities and improve policies in the Latin America and the Carribbean, reports NaijaAgroNet.

This, NaijaAgroNet gathered is a sign of new educational partnership of putting knowledge into the hands of thousands of professionals working in food security and nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean.

NaijaAgroNet also gathered that the partnership offers individuals and institutions the opportunity to gain access to a broad suite of online courses to develop their capacity to improve policies and programmes.

The initiative, NaijaAgroNet learnt will offer a new Master’s programme in Food Security, in addition to e-learning courses currently offered by FAO. Even as the programme partnership will target current and potential policymakers through a vast network of over 220 universities in the region.

NaijaAgroNet further gathered that with the support of the European Union (EU), FAO has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association of Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (UDUAL) to develop the education programme.

Hence, FAO and UDUAL will work with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to develop the curricula. Rollout of the new courses is slated for January 2015.

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‘Women influential in rise of Christianity’

A band of forgotten women were hugely influential in the rise of Christianity, a five-year study has found, NaijaAgroNet can authoritatively report.

Professor Kate Cooper of The University of Manchester, told NaijaAgroNet, their contribution has been neglected by the mainstream churches in her new book released this August.

NaijaAgroNet gather that the study identified dozens of forgotten Christian women who were influential in the first and second centuries, during a period when Christianity was - in some respects - more progressive towards women than today.

According to Professor Cooper, women played a central role in spreading the new Christian faith through informal friendship and family networks.

Their authority within Christian communities was earned through their role as parents, community organizers, and small business owners.

One, Lydia the Purple-seller of Philippi remembered in the Bible’s Book of Acts, was the first person to sponsor St Paul.

Another woman, Perpetua, who lived in Carthage at the end of the second century, was famous at the time for refusing to denounce her faith, choosing martyrdom against her father’s wishes.

Her diary, written while she awaited execution in prison, was a radical document which would be seen in today’s world as extreme and very unlike the official Christian views of what the Christian woman should be, says Professor Cooper.

One of the most important, she says, is Thecla of Iconium, believed by second century Christians to have been one of St Paul’s disciples.

Referring to the ‘Acts of Paul and Thecla’, an anonymous second century text, Professor Cooper shows how Thekla rebelled against her family to refuse marriage - an unthinkable act at the time.

“Though there is no certain evidence that Thecla existed, her story was hugely influential in the first few hundred years of early Christianity,” said Professor Cooper.

“The influence of her story was far-reaching, in that it became the root of the Catholic theology of chastity and virginity.

“Every major Christian male writer in the fourth century had a sister, and these young women were encouraged to follow Thecla’s example. Rather than criticizing her for disobeying her mother, the early Church celebrated her courage.

“Christianity was quite revolutionary in the way it treated its women, especially when you realise how sexist the ancient world was.

“So it’s sad that Thecla and her contemporaries are not properly remembered and honoured today. They should be an inspiration: for example to the people campaigning for women bishops and priests.”

Women, says Professor Cooper, regularly preached the gospel in the first two centuries of Christianity, and in some communities women carried out baptisms.

It wasn’t until the Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, in around 313 AD, the religion became institutionalised: male bishops were now government officials and women came to be seen as players in the background rather than public figures.

Professor Cooper added: “These women – saints who had a radical and powerful presence in the early church – have been hidden in plain sight.

“Many Gospel stories, for example – such as the story of Mary and Martha in the Gospel of Luke – can tell us far more about women’s role if we stop to pay close attention – something male writers have not done.

“The ancient sources mention the women, but over time less and less attention was given to their role. Really, they have been airbrushed out of history.

“It is quite sad that a religion which began with a mother and her wonderful baby should still have so much difficulty with remembering to honour the contribution of its women.”

Correspondent/NaijaAgroNet 
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