With the focus of global biological research laying a lot of emphasis on molecular techniques, there is a need for proper integration in the southern part of Nigeria, especially in the Southeast where there is existence of scanty data in the field of genomics. The need to create awareness, build interest and skill in the generation, management, utilization and application of relevant biological data cannot be overemphasized.
The NAU Bioinformatics and Genomics Consortium was created in May 2019, to accommodate and foster multidisciplinary research among the Life Sciences, Applied Natural Sciences (Maths, Physics, Statistics, and Computer Science) and Engineering Faculties of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Prime Group members
- Dr Moses Ikegbunam – (Coordinator) Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Dr Azubuike Aniedu – Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering
- Prof. Kingsley Ikechukwu Uborji – Department of Biochemistry
- Dr Michael Egbuche – Department of Parasitology and Entomology
- Dr Godspower Akawuku – Department of Computer Science
- Dr Simon Ushie – Faculty of Medicine
- Mrs Benedictta Chinwoke Okeke-Nwaolisa – Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Mrs Chinonye Faith Chinedu-Okeke – Department of Mass Communication
- Mrs Chiamaka Obasi – Department of Crop Science and Horticulture
- Echezona Obika – Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Chikodili Anaukwu – Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing
- Chukwunonso Okoye – Department of Chemical Engineering
- Christian Ekugba – Department of Animal Sciences
- Aloysius Adibe – Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Emmanuel Nnabuihe – Department of Soil Science
- Onyekachi Chukwu – Department of Forestry and Wildlife
- Ikegwu Theophilus – Department of Food Science and Technology
- Nneamaka O.T Nwankwo – Department of Agric Economics and Extension
- Judith Nwachukwu – MSc student, Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology.
Advisors
- Professor Obioma C. Nwaorgu FAS
- Professor Ikemefuna Uzochukwu
- Professor Comfort Akujuobi
- Professor Ifeoma B. Enweani
- Professor Hyacint Inyama
- Professor Iyke Okoli
OBJECTIVES
- Galvanise the consortium as a national player within the discipline of Bioinformatics and Genomics.
- Create a computing and visibility platform to continously engage NBGC members and the public: Website, WhatsApp group, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn within the next 3 months.
- To identify all researchers, academics, and students working on Bioinformatics and Genomics within NAU, Awka, and other participating institutions around the Southeastern region irrespective of discipline within six months, .
- Organise conferences on Bioinformatics and Genomics to attract other participating institutions around Awka or Southeastern region and Nigeria help identify other investigators who may not be affiliated with NAU.
- Collaborate with other bioinformatics interest groups in Nigeria, and beyond.
FUNDING SOURCES
The Consortium sources its funds from payments made for training, conferences and publications as well as from membership and annual dues from members.
ACTIVITIES
The consortium is already making strides to the achievement of her objectives. Between May and October 2019, the consortium has successfully hosted an inaugural conference and two bioinformatics workshops (all hands-on). The workshops covered subjects in the line of sequence databases, sequence alignment, introduction to Linux command line and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), with a good number of people from within and outside the University community (staff and students) from diverse disciplines (Biological Science, Pharmacy, Agriculture, Physical Science, and Engineering) as participants.
PARTNERSHIP
These events were successfully organized in collaboration with the Molecular Research Foundation for Students and Scientists (MRFSS), a non-profit organization, driven towards building capacity and fostering molecular research in southeast Nigeria. The Facilitators were from Pro-Seq, a bioinformatics company in Nigeria.
We hope to continue organizing training, as continuous use of these Bioinformatics tools builds mastery. One major focus will be to bring the bioinformatics community in NAU together, through activities that will keep the conversation going within the Consortium.