University Of Jos Wins $8m Dollars World Bank Grant For Research

The University of Jos has received an eight million
dollar grant from the World Bank to establish of
an African Centre of Excellence to research on the
production of drugs from plants (phytomedicine).
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof
Hayward Mafuyai, made the fact known in Jos on
Friday when he briefed newsmen on the research
activities of the institution.
He said that the award was given based on the
university’s entry in the call by the bank for
research initiatives from African universities.
“We competed with about 52 universities in Africa
and we were lucky to win the grant.
“The grant was given to the university to conduct
researches to produce modern drugs from plants
in Africa
“The grant will be used to conduct researches on
different leaves, roots and plants so as to extract
their medicinal contents for the use of human
beings.
“The team of researchers from the Faculty of
Pharmaceutical Science will carry out the
research
“The money will be released to the researchers in
phases so as to complete the work without
hitches, “ he said.
The vice-chancellor also said that the university
emerged as the best in the category of
universities in the country during the second
Education Innovation Exhibition announced in
Abuja on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
He said that “the Federal Ministry of Education in
collaboration with Federal Ministry of Science and
Technology organised the exhibition.
“The team of researchers from the university has
produced some drugs for the use of Nigerians.
“Our researchers have produced anti-
hypertension, anti-diabetes, anti-malaria drugs
and anti snake venom.
“We have sent the newly developed drugs to some
overseas universities for further verification on
their potency,“ he said
Mafuyai said that the institution had also signed
a Memorandum (MoU) of Understanding with the
university of Cape- Coast in Ghana to train its
staff.
“The MOU is signed for initial three year duration
for the purpose of omithology: to develop and
carry out conservation based training,“ he said.
The vice-chancellor appealed to philanthropists to
come to the aid of the university so that it could
become the best in the country.