By Charles Akinbode
As the Redeemer’s University, Ede in Osun State graduated 635 students on Thursday, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Akinlo, said its African Center of Excellence for the Geonomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) has won three major laurels for its contribution to the health sector in 2021 and 2022.
The center has been declared winner of the 2021 Nigerian Academy of Science Gold Medal prize award for research breakthrough and capacity building across African continent.
In his address at the 14th university’s Convocation and Award of Degree ceremony held on Thursday at the institution auditorium, the vice chancellor, Prof. Anthony Akinlo, disclosed that the centre was also awarded the Al-Sumait Prize 2021 for African Development in recognition of its strides in the genomics of infectious diseases, translational research and capacity building in the continent.
Akinlo further disclosed the centre won the Sterling Bank Most Outstanding Genomics Laboratory of the 2022 Year Award at the Nigeria Health Excellence award ceremony in recognition of the centre’s contribution to the Nigeria and Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The VC, who was elated to list other achievements of the university, said the Redeemer’s University has recently trained participants in NGS, using both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore technology platforms and bioinformatics.
He said the University would continue to be on track to global reckoning on geonomic of infectious diseases, within and outside the country.
Akinlo, therefore, advised the graduands also known as 2022 Diamond Set to be good ambassadors of the institution in their future endeavors as diamonds
Also, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Redeemers University, Pastor Olukayode Pitan, said the graduating students must devote themselves to execellence, also advising them to bear in mind that the journey of life is a marathon, not a race.
He further advised them to step out with the armour of the Lord and the laurels they have earned in their stay at the university.
He said the university would continue to invest in human capital investment in order to raise great leaders as shining testament to God’s Glory
“The university will continue to put in its best with the assurance that God, who is the greatest rewarder will always meet you all at your point of needs,”
he said.
Speaking at the event, the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Pastor E. Odeyemi, said the Redeemer’s University has been recognised within and outside the shores of the country for its talented researchers and continental powerhouse for research in genomics of infectious disease .
Odeyemi also said the university is driven by the passion to always achieve more, adding that this has enhanced its reputation, nationally and internationally.
He noted that the 2022 graduants also known as (Diamond set) were quality shining light in their various respective fields.
Odeyemi thanked the academic and non- teaching staff for their commitment to duty and positive projections of the Redeemer’s University brand.
He said the effort of the workforce has earned the university its reputation as foremost destination for intellectuals enterprises in Nigeria.