UNN VC Elected Chairman of UNESCO Scientific Advisory Board

Posted by African Examiner Articles/Opinion, education, News Monday, February 11th, 2013

Members of the Advisory Board of the UNESCO Scientific Advisory
Board on Tuesday at its inaugural meeting of the Board elected
Prof. Bartho. N. Okolo, Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria,
Nsukka as its chairman for the next four years.

The election, held in the Board room of the premier University, was
part of a series of events put together by the International
Biotechnology Centre, UNESCO Category 2, to mark the inaugural
conference on Biotechnology.

Speaking during the election, leader of the foreign delegates to the
conference and Executive Secretary, International Basic Sciences
Programme, UNESCO Headquarters, Maciej Nalecz noted that the
choice of Prof. Okolo as its chair is a fallout out of the belief of
members of board in his ability to steer the ship of organization to
greater heights in biotechnological developments.

“His leadership qualities are well-trusted, and there is no doubt he
will bring this to bear on the board and its functions. He is
professional, visionary and astute, and we find it fitting to have him
help drive the board and its responsibilities to the Centre,” he said.

Prof. Naliecz also reaffirmed the commitment of the world body to
the nation’s drive for biotechnological advancement, stressing that
the Centre would facilitate the expected related outcomes.

The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is a creation of the
International Governing Board on Biotechnology, and will function
primarily in an advisory capacity such as offering advices on
strategic objectives of the International Centre for Biotechnology,
scientific orientation of the Centre and monitoring, evaluation and
performance of the Centre.

Members of the advisory board at the meeting include Ms Lucy
Hoareau, Desk Officer for Biotechnology, UNESCO Headquarters;
Prof. Iqbal Parker, DG, ICGEB, South Africa; Prof. Dinakar Salunke,
Director, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, New Delhi, India; Dr.
Chris Nwoguh, Health Protection Agency, Salisbury,UK and Prof.
Tim Crick, University of Sheffield, UK.

Others are Prof. Walter S. Alhassan,SABIMA Accra, Ghana; Prof.
Phillippe Desmeth, President of world federation for culture
collection (WFCC); Prof. Dafna Feinholz, Chief of Section-Bioethics,
UNESCO Headquarters; and Dr. Chikelu Mba, FAO, Rome.

The International Centre for Biotechnology, UNESCO Category 2,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka will provide state of the art laboratory
facilities to enhance research, develop research for food security,
develop tropical disease research initiatives, provide training for
postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows and develop
capacity for biotechnology policy and practice.