The Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) has expressed its commitment to bridging the gap in research and development through technology.
The Director-General of SHESTCO, Prof. Paul Onyenekwe, said this on Wednesday during the SHESTCO Day at the ongoing Science, Technology, and Innovation Expo in Abuja.
He said the complex was a place to be in terms of research using modern technology, adding that it had purchased new equipment that was ready for use by researchers.
“We are appealing to scientists and researchers that have proposals that have to do with modern equipment; most of this equipment is not common in most institutions, but we are available.
“We are giving out an open invitation; the equipment is available,” Onyenekwe said.
According to him, the complex provides avenues through which institutions of high learning in the country may carry out capital-intensive research on a cost-effective basis.
Onyenekwe said the complex also assisted in developing advanced computational and multiscale modeling and stimulation foundations and a resource-based center to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery in the country.
He said so far, the complex has built three zonal offices across the country, adding that it is about to build offices in Kano, Anambra, and Plateau.
Also speaking, Andrew Iloh, the Director, Biotechnology Advanced Research Centre, SHESTCO, said the biotechnology research centre had been able to train more than 1000 industrial training students and about 100 masters and PhDs in one form of research or another.
“We want our research to have innovative status; we want people who use our research to generate income for the country.
“Biotechnology provides an excellent opportunity to build a sustainable economy,” he said.
The Director, Chemistry Advanced Research Centre, SHESTCO, Prof. Danlami Uzama, said the complex had been able to develop an anti-sickening phytodrug that was produced from local plants.
The don said that the phytodrug had been compounded and a toxicology study evaluated, adding that an anti-sickling drug preclinical study indicated that it was effective.
According to him, the complex has been able to develop an anti-epilepsy phytodrug, which is in phases 1 and 2 of the clinical trials of the anti-epilepsy phytodrug. It is also making efforts to patent and register the drug. (NAN)
