Th e increasing prevalence of diabetes in the country has become a major health challenge facing Nigerians today. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot properly utilise the insulin it produces. Diabetes is also dangerous because of its tendency to engender other severe complications for man. Over time, the raised blood sugar, which is not utilised by resulting in damage to many parts of the body system, including the nerves and blood vessels. \
WHO further reported that, about 1.5 million deaths were attributed to diabetes, fi ve years ago, while it is projected that the disease will be the seventh leading cause of death by 2030. Promising development took place recently at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, as the Board of Trustees, Centre for the Advancement of Research in Diabetes in Nigeria, has concluded plans to establish a diabetes research centre in the University.
Th e centre, when operational, would be established towards fostering research and the use of medicinal plants for the benefi t of diabetic patients; both in Nigeria and Africa. Disclosing this piece of good news was the Grand Patron of the centre and former President of Nigeria, Chief (Dr.) Olusegun Obasanjo, during a working visit of the Board of Trustees to the land allocated for the centre by FUNAAB. Chief Obasanjo, who is an honorary awardee of FUNAAB, recalled what brought about the idea of establish a diabetic centre, saying that he believed that Nigeria had not done enough in the area of research for medicinal plants and diabetic patients, adding that another reason was that Emeritus Professor Oladipupo Akinkugbe, who is the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the centre was a good creator of ideas. Th e former President confi rmed the effi cacy and eff ectiveness of herbal medicines, thereby calling on stakeholders and practitioners to promote its cause through research and collaboration. Chief Obasanjo, the Honorary Awardee of the University further said that pharmaceutical companies had not extracted up to 20 per cent of needed “
active ingredients” in roots and herbs, to cure ailments and diseases while confi rming that China and South Africa had made appreciable progress in the fi eld. While advising stakeholders to wake up to their responsibilities, the former President said the initiative would be extended to all universities in Nigeria and Africa, adding that he was happy that the project would be taking-off from FUNAAB, which is located Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Th e Grand Patron of the centre urged the University to assist in carrying out the perimeter survey, topographic map and directional sign posts for the sites, while the research centre would handle the fencing, stating that staffi ng would be done between the centre and the University. Th e Chairman, Board of Trustees of the centre, Emeritus Professor Oladipupo Akinkugbe said the project, which was conceived nine years ago, would promote collaborative research for the promotion of Town and Gown; off er curative mechanism for diabetic patients across Africa and ensure health-free society, adding that “you need this kind of collaboration in the universities for the overall development and the Town and the Gown like that of the University of Ibadan (UI) and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA)”. Th e Emeritus Professor of Medicine commended FUNAAB for taking the bull by the horn, to host the research centre, saying the University was doing a unique thing and beating other institutions. Th e Acting ViceChancellor, Professor Ololade Enikuomehin, expressed the appreciation of the entire members of the University community to the former President and its Board of Trustees, for counting FUNAAB worthy to host the centre. Professor Enikuomehin assured the Board of Trustees of unalloyed support, cooperation and full collaboration towards making the project a reality. He further announced the donation of 30 hectares of land to the centre, saying that location was carefully chosen, mindful of long-term value to both the centre and the university. To fast-track the smooth commencement of the project, the Governing Council of the University has approved the constitution of a negotiating team with the Diabetes Research Group. Th e FUNAAB team, headed by Professor Oluyemisi Eromosele, the Deputy ViceChancellor (Academic) with the task of negotiating with the Diabetes Research Group on terms and conditions for the establishment, and the need to strike a good deal with regard to the future dividends accruable from the centre, in addition to ensuring that concrete agreement was signed by both parties such that unnecessary legal encumbrances can be avoided by the time the project kicks-off . No doubt, this laudable project, when fully in operation, would aff ord many Nigerians another opportunity to fi ght the killer disease in the country. Apart from the employment platform that would be open for doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other administrative personnel, it would remain a symbol of the Town and the Gown, between the University and its host communities and even beyond. Th is idea in becoming a reality is what all the stakeholders are seriously yearning for in the coming months.
