The Vice Chancellor of the First Technical University, Ibadan, Prof. Ayobami Salami, has said that the need to support the efforts of the Oyo State Government towards containing coronavirus inspired the university to produce re-usable masks for distribution.
The university, on Thursday, donated the washable face masks it produced to the Oyo State Government, with the promise that it would deploy its research might to finding a lasting solution to the pandemic.
The Vice Chancellor led principal officers of the institution to the Ministry of Health, Secretariat, Ibadan, where the donation was made.
Among the principal officers were the Registrar, Mrs Olayinka Balogun; the Bursar, Mr. Kehinde Olatokun and the university’s Legal Adviser, Barrister Adeyemi Opakunle.
Others include the university Auditor, Mr Adebisi Adekunle; the Purchasing Officer, Mr Oyategbe Tunde Samuel; and an Administrative Officer, Mr Oladipo Fagbamila.
They were received by top officials of the Health Ministry, led by the, Commissioner for Health, Dr Basir Bello; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. M. O. Ayoola; and the Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board, Dr Olusoji Alaruru Adeyanju.
Speaking at the event, Professor Salami said Tech-U’s Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TVET) Centre decided to produce and donate the washable masks as its own contribution to the efforts to curtail the pandemic.
“As a university, we believe that we are strategically placed to be part of the solution to the pandemic,” the VC said. “That is why our TVET Centre produced the masks. Sir, our face masks are different from others’ in terms of quality and durability. Most masks, you use them and dispose. But because we consider the fact that there is the need to help the generality of our people in conserving fund, we make the mask washable. You use it, you wash it and wear it again.
“Immediately the coronavirus became a pandemic, we decided to support the state Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) with the design and production of information and awareness materials, as well as well as ICT support for the emergency operations including surveillance, contact tracing, data analysis and database management. Right now, First Technical University research team is also working towards the production of ventilators. Our belief is that, more than ever before, universities and other higher institutions in Nigeria must be practically and innovatively relevant to the advancement of society. As a Technical University, that is our vision and we thus thank the Ministry of Health and the government in general for always giving us the opportunity to demonstrate relevance and corporate social responsibility.”
Salami stressed that the masks were also available for the public for sale at a modest price and with the advantage that they can use and wash it and use again.
In his response, the commissioner acknowledged the cordial relationship between the ministry and Tech-U. He recalled that the institution had been supporting the ministry, through its earlier gesture to the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC).
Bello said the masks would prove useful especially with the re-usability factor. He therefore solicited the university’s continuous search for interventions that are evidence-based.
According to him, Oyo State is approaching the management of the coronavirus pandemic with fact and necessity of reality.
He said that was why the lockdown it was adopting was partial, because completely shutting down the system would mean locking down the entire economy in which you have many poor people also operating.
Bello stressed, “The Tech U’s offer is coming on time and it has a unique value, which is usability. That value is immense compared to the disposable ones, given the level of economy.”
