The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, has unveiled three new medical diagnostic laboratory units of the Faculty of Health Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
The state-of-the-art, well-equipped laboratories are: Pathology lab, Medical Microbiology lab and Haematology lab, all located at the faculty’s block, NOUN headquarters, Abuja.
Speaking before their official commissioning, Prof. Peters described the event as a dream come true for the faculty, as the new laboratories will reduce difficulties and enhance first-hand diagnosis for staff in the university.
“This event is very important in the annals of the university as it will improve the scientific spirit of the staff, as practicing science makes perfection and not just skill,” he said.
While commending the first dean of then then School of Health Sciences, Prof. Mba Okoronkwo(OON), for blazing the trail, Peters also urged the faculty members to utilise the laboratories for their professional growth.
He further implored the university community to patronise the laboratories, saying that "I am happy that today this dream is a reality, for us to be commissioning the laboratories today, shows the commitment of the university.”
Earlier, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Isaac Butswat, commended the VC for his tireless effort in bringing this to be, stressing that “a healthy workforce is an asset to an organisation.”
Butswat also commended the NOUN VC for making the laboratories accessible not only for the university community but also to the larger community.
On his part, the dean of the faculty, Prof. Shehu Usman Adamu, also commended the Vice-Chancellor for making this commissioning a reality and fully equipping the laboratories. “This has been in existence before now, but the support of Prof. Peters made it a reality, and we appreciate his deep support.”
Leading the management and staff on a facility tour, the Principal Medical Laboratory Scientist, Mrs. Medlyn Okolo Obieze, said the laboratory was formally established in Lagos before its relocation to the headquarters.
“This laboratory has been in construction for seven years but today, Prof, Femi Peters made it a reality,” she stated.
Present at the commissioning were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, the Registrar, Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, University Bursar, Malam Nasiru Marafa, University Librarian, Dr. Angela Okpala, other senior staff of the university, staff from various department/directorates and well-wishers.
The highlight of the event was the free medical checks and tests.
It would be recalled that the dean in a memo dated June 6, 2023, revealed that the Vice-Chancellor has approved the commencement of Medical Diagnostic Laboratory unit of the faculty, which was set-up as a welfare package for staff.
Consequent upon that, the VC also approved the procurement of relevant equipment and consumable items for effective operation at the Medical Diagnostic Laboratory unit.
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