By Junaid Abdullahi
A senior lecturer at the Department of Anatomy at Ekiti State University Ado-Ekiti (EKSU), Dr Adebanji Akingbade has called on government at all levels to commit more funds to the basic science courses especially anatomy in the interest of society.
Akingbade explained that provision of funding would help in carrying out more research with sophisticated equipment and facilities to advance the course of humanity, saying,
“Anatomy is the father of medicine.
He spoke during the Academic Seminar organized by the Anatomical Students Society of Nigeria (ASSON) EKSU chapter with the topic, ‘ Collaborative Research in Anatomy: Building Partnerships Between Nigerian Institutions and International Organisations’.
The seminar’s topic was delivered by an Associate Professor of Anatomy from the Osun State University, Dr Adekomi Damilare.
Akingbade, who is the immediate past Head of Department noted that with the right funding in the universities system for anatomy, humanity would be better for it with more innovations and discoveries, adding that the place of anatomical science in the society cannot be overemphasised.
He commended the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji for his recent increase in subvention to EKSU, which he said would assist the institution to meet its obligations, urging the governor to provide more funding for the university system.
According to him, “We want government to come to the aid of anatomical sciences, with funding we can do better. Government should fund basic science courses especially anatomy so that we can be able to have access to state-of-the-art facilities because most of the research we want to do is at the sub-cellular level.
“We have issues carrying out these experiments because we don’t have the equipment around, for example, we don’t have an electro-microscope or confocal microscope in this part of the country, maybe in one or two universities in Nigeria.
“So, with funding and government intervention, we can do more in anatomy and if you don’t have access to these state-of-the-art equipment, we can’t discover new things.”
Reiterating the need for the passage and signing into law of the Anatomy Bill, he said, ” This is why we are trying to reactivate anatomy bill. Without signing Anatomy Act into law, society can’t enjoy the impact of anatomy. The bill has passed through the first and second reading in the House of Representatives. We are just expecting the final assertions of the President so that we can practice anatomy fully.
“Just a layman won’t have access to our bodies. It will be qualified anatomy that will have access to our bodies; our research will be defined. We have different research we carry out in anatomy. Anatomy is a key course in basic science and reasons why people say that anatomy is the father of medicine.”
Delivering his lecture, Dr Adekomi explained that the field of anatomy has moved beyond the tradition of studying only the structures of the body but to other areas in human endeavour.
While stressing the need for collaboration in research, the lecturer maintained that anatomy is now relevant in ddifferentareas especially challenges confronting people in society.
He advised the students to be more dedicated and committed to their sstustudiesing that the field of study they have chosen for themselves has the power to unlock the myriad of health issues in the human race.
Speaking, the president of ASSON EKSU chapter, Adeniyi Adetunji said the event was organized as part of the annual week of the anatomy students, to sensitize the students on the prospects of anatomy education in the country.
