Ooni, Afe Babalola partner on clinical research to combat COVID-19 pandemic

OPC donates to COVID-19 patients in South-West, Kwara, Kogi
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), have partnered on clinical research to develop drugs and vaccines to combat coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement yesterday, signed by the Ooni, the monarch noted that it was time to move the health sector forward, saying that Afe Babalola has invested millions of dollars in the ABUAD College of Medicine and is making great efforts to upgrade the laboratory to Level 4 Biosafety to handle very sensitive and other deadly infections like COVID-19.

The monarch, who stated that there was need to develop a joint clinical research on drugs and vaccines from plants and herbs to fight the virus, urged the government and well-meaning Nigerians to support the university researchers and partner on massive industrial revolution that would enable internal solutions to national challenges.

Afe Babalola said: “I have already dedicated my life to humanity. What else am I looking for in this world? God has been so kind to me, that is why I must be so kind to the humanity too. Even if I have to increase the laboratory from Level 4, I will do so without any hesitation so that this partnership can be a huge success. All my life has been with challenges. I never saw the four walls of the university but I have several university degrees.”

Meanwhile, National Co-ordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, has donated N3 million to procure food and other essential items to patients of the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the six South-West states and Kwara and Kogi states.

Adams stated that the palliative was aimed at assisting the various governments in ensuring better treatment of COVID-19 patients at the various isolation centres across the regions.