The 84th inaugural lecture was held at the Multipurpose Auditorium, Bauchi Road Campus with the topic “Microorganisms your foe: plants playing an indispensable role”.
The lecture was presented on November 2nd by Prof. Festus Chukwuemeka Onwuluri of the Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Natural Science.
Prof. Onwuluri in his lecture expressed optimism that by the end of the 21st century, the use of plants formulation will conquer and eliminate many of man’s dreaded plaques; smallpox, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Hepatitis A – E, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Meningitis, etc, while describing them as enemies or foes to man’s existence.
Prof. Onwuluri added that the main aim of the lecture was to carefully explore the role that plants play in curbing the harmful effects of microorganisms and also share his achievement in research among which includes the Bio-Gas Machine for generating gas at home and the Ikem wound ointment (a healing ointment formed from leaf extract). This achievement in research has won him numerous awards and international recognition.
He, therefore, sees it as an imperative to create awareness among health officials and the general public on the dangers of microbial infectious diseases and the role of plants in controlling epidemics and diseases that cause a lot of afflictions to humans in the nation. He further urged that the government should institute appropriate control measures against microbial infections in the country. ” The government should also embark on an awareness campaign on the use of herbal preparation and their usefulness in reducing the occurrence and spread of these microorganisms,” he said.
The need for good hygiene was reiterated by him while outlining diseases caused by a microbial organism and the factors responsible. “Water-related diseases such as helminthiasis and malaria, gastrointestinal tract infections such as cholera and typhoid, food poisings such as sahinoella, environmentally related diseases such as rabies and yellow fever are all traced to factors which include contaminated water and food, dirty environment and abundance of the vector. Skin infections are attributed to factors such as injury due to accidents post-operation, inadequate education/awareness, lack of personal hygiene, inadequate sanitation, and poverty. Sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract infection could be traced to factors such as prostitution, rape, poverty, and ignorance. Dental diseases and zoonotic diseases were also mentioned among the many said causes plagues by the activities of these microbial organisms” he said.
According to Prof. Onwuluri, four out of five people rely on the plant for primary health care and hence, makes Botany one of the richest courses. Some plant extract has been found to contain bioactive substances which make them be effective in destroying or eliminating microorganism from human/ animal bodies when they are applied and the action are of two types: bacteriocidal action – in which microorganism is killed and bacteriostatic action in which the microorganism is inactivated. “Some plants have in fact been exploited in the formulation of hand sanitizers gel from Aloe Vera; Ikem wound healing ointment from Spermacoece Verticillate among others” he added.
The event was graced by dignitaries such as the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. (Mrs.) Viola Adaku Onwuluri, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Sebastian Maimako, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration Prof. (Mrs.) Theresa Nmadu, the Registrar Mr. Monday Danjam, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor Prof. Hayward Mafuyai, and the Dean Faculty of Natural Science Prof. (Mrs) Georgina Mwansat among others.
The Vice-Chancellor presented an award and a gift to Prof. Onwuluri while welcoming him to the guild of scholars. He said people should change their mindset and start cultivating the needed plants to fight microbial organisms.
Prof. Mwansat, while giving the closing remark thanked all for being a part of the lecture delivered by an outstanding scholar who; obtained a Ph.D. at 35, received over 20 scholarly awards (both nationally and internationally), supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students, and a God-fearing man blessed with a wife and children. She urged all to learn from the professionals and ‘live a naturally natural life’.
Photo Credit: Enoch Tyulen
