President Yemi Osinbajo, (2nd from left) and Nasarawa State Governor, Mr Abdullahi Sule (3rd from left) during the commissioning of Infectious Disease Centre in Lagos.
By Collins Sunday – Lafia
The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has commissioned an Infectious Disease, Diagnostic and Research Centre in Lafia.
Commissioning the centre on Tuesday, the Vice President explained that the Nasarawa Infectious Diseases, Diagnosis and Research Center is a landmark achievement that the state, nation and African continent will benefit from.
“There is no question at all that anywhere in the world, this type of achievement deserves to be celebrated. But I think that perhaps for me, the underlying lessons to be learnt from this very important achievement are about three things. The first is vision. That vision is critical, especially in development. Money is not everything. As a matter of fact, if you have the funds and you do not have the vision, you will achieve nothing. But if you have the vision, you will most likely attract money.”
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“Nasarawa state is not by any means the wealthiest state in the country. In fact, if you look at what Nasarawa state earns and what is allocated, it certainly does not come anywhere near the top one third, but with the vision, the state has proven that vision is even more important than money”, he said.
He commended the immediate past governor of the state who is presently representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District at the National Assembly for conceiving the idea to establish the disease diagnostic centre in the state while thanking Governor Abdullahi Sule for ensuring that the idea did not die by ensuring that the project is completed.
“I want to commend His Excellency, former Governor Tanko Al-Makura, who conceived of this place as properly acknowledged by His Excellency, the current Governor.”
Front view of the Infectious Disease Centre in Lafia.
“But perhaps the second lesson to learn is that vision itself can be killed if your successor does not have a big enough mind, vision means nothing. Continuity is not just one party succeeding another. It is the very notion that when you succeed someone, you develop all of the great ideas that they started. You build on vision. And I think His excellency The governor has proved that by building on the great vision of former governor Tanko Al-Makura and has got us to this place today that we are able to celebrate a notable scientific and technological achievement. But I think perhaps for me, the third and perhaps most important lesson is that this country has everything that it takes to be the best anywhere in the world.”
“We have everything it takes. We have the talents. We have men and women of vision, and we have all of the resources that it takes to be just as good as any, anywhere in the world. As we have heard, the center here comprises a bio safety level three laboratory, a molecular biology laboratory and infectious diseases isolation unit, and an epidemiology unit as well. And we are told that these are top of the class, first rate facilities that you could find anywhere in the world. This is not just some Mickey mouse, tiny club achievement. This is a phenomenal achievement in technology terms, and it has been done and fulfilled by Nigerians and done here in Nigeria. So I think we should congratulate ourselves and that we should really hold our heads up high”, the Vice President said.
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On his part, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state explained that on assumption of office in May, 2019, his administration made a commitment to complete projects initiated by the previous Administration in the state which was the reason why he ensured the completion of the project that will not only benefit Nasarawa state but the entire nation.
“We resolved to improve on the living conditions of our citizenry through the provision of quality healthcare service. It is for this reason that we have committed enormous resources towards the completion of the Nasarawa State Infectious Disease and Research Centre considered critical in the diagnosis of different viral infections.”
“I need to state that, before now, the diagnosis of several infectious diseases, such as lassa fever, yellow fever, measles, cerebrospinal meningitis, as well as the current COVID-19 pandemic, were conducted outside the State. However, with the establishment of the Centre and its full operation, the perennial diagnosis and management challenges of infectious diseases previously experienced will become a thing of the past and treatments of such ailments will be greatly enhanced.”
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“As the name implies, the Centre will also serve as research hub, crucible for innovations and operational research that will provoke policy initiation. Similarly, the Centre will conduct clinical trials for vaccines, drugs and other products, in compliance with ethical standards, as well as support trainings in public health and researches at all levels. In addition, it will also provide scientific guidance for the local production of vaccines, diagnostic kits, sera, anti-sera and other related health products. I am happy to state that the Centre is one of the best diagnostic centres in the country.”
‘It is pertinent to note that the Centre is equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities and has a provision of a Biosafety levels II & III Laboratories, a Molecular Laboratory, an Isolation Ward, an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), an Administrative Structure and a Conference Hall”, the Governor said.
He commended the Federal Government for the support and provision of equipment, as well as other critical facilities which eventuated the readiness of the Infectious Disease and Research Centre while thanking his predecessor, Senator Tanko Al-makura for conceiving the idea and also started the building of the diagnostic centre before he left office in May 2019.
The event was well attended by top government functionaries in the state.
