By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
PROF. Isah Yahaya, a Professor of Organic PPChemistry, has called on government and policy markers to create policies and provide support for innovative research and development in the field of bioactive compounds for sustainable scientific discoveries.
He said that research in bioactive compounds, a branch of Chemistry, would help harness the power of nature’s chemistry to build a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
Prof. Yahaya made the call in his inauguraI lecture themed: “Deciphering the Chemical Language of Nature: Discovering and Harnessing the Power of Bioactive Compounds”, the 38th in the Inaugural Lecture series of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL).
He urged government to foster public-private partnerships and incentivize industries to invest in research and translation of natural product to pave way for tangible applications in health, food security and sustainable manufacturing.
The Organic Chemistry Professor who described Chemistry as “Queen of the Sciences” said it impacts life in several ways including: Nutrition and food sciences, Medicine and Pharmacology, Agriculture, andEnergy production among several others.
“We should systematically expand our bioactivity profiling to include a panel of globally relevant targets, from neglected tropical diseases and antimicrobial resistance to non-communicable disease markers”, he said.
The Don emphasised the the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among Chemists, Biologists, Pharmacologist and Environmental scientists as essential for advancing knowledge in the field for drug discovery and sustainable practices.
Prof. Yinusa called on universities and other higher institutions to become engines that drive the interdisciplinary science to create and support dedicated research clusters to turn ground breaking research into societal and economic benefits.
“Beyond laboratory outputs, we have a responsibility to communicate our science’s relevance through policy briefs, community reports, and public engagement, highlighting how our work addresses pressing global challenges.
“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that the profound potential of nature’s chemical library is adeptly and ethically translated into solutions for a healthier, more sustainable world”, he declared.
Earlier in his welcome address, Vice Chancellor of FUL, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi whose tenure is gradually grinding to a halt, said the 39th Inaugural Lecture, coming soon, would be the last to be delivered under his administration.
“From the very beginning of my tenure, it was my vision to reinvigorate and sustain the culture of Inaugural Lectures as a vital platform for showcasing scholarly excellence, intellectual leadership, and research visibility.
“I am pleased to state, with humility and gratitude, that this vision has been faithfully pursued”, he said as he commended the University Management and the Inaugural Lecture Committee, for remaining steadfast in the effort.
Prof. Akinwumi expressed confidence that the incoming Vice-Chancellor would sustain and further strengthen the legacy, and ensure that the culture of scholarship, research dissemination, and academic excellence continues to flourish in the University.
