By Khadijah Aliyu
The Kano Independent Research Centre Trust (KIRCT) says it is expanding research into critical health challenges, including breast cancer, antimicrobial resistance, genomics and vaccine development.
The Chairman of the Centre’s Board of Trustees, Professor Aliyu Abdu, stated this at the opening of an Advanced Bioinformatics Workshop organised by KIRCT in Kano.
Professor Abdu said training young scientists to conduct impactful research was one of the Centre’s core mandates, stressing that strengthening local research capacity was essential to developing sustainable solutions to health challenges.
He explained that the Centre had state-of-the-art facilities that enabled researchers to conduct advanced studies locally, reducing the need to travel abroad and strengthening Nigeria’s scientific research capacity.
The chairman said KIRCT had established partnerships with research institutions within and outside the region, with plans to expand its collaborations globally .
He urged workshop participants to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to advance scientific research and improve healthcare outcomes. He also commended the diversity of participants, particularly the gender balance.
Professor Abdu appreciated Pfizer Inc. and the Kano State Government for funding the Centre, while commending its board and management for their contributions to its progress.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on Health Services and Board member, Dr Ibrahim Musa Idris, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting KIRCT. He expressed optimism that the Centre would gain global recognition for developing innovative solutions to health challenges.
Editing By Safiyah Abdulkadir