Peter Ibrahim
In a landmark move aimed at using modern medical innovations to treat various medical conditions, the Kaduna State University has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the University Indonesia(Universitas Indonesia) and AMA Foundation to jointly spearhead research and training initiatives in the field of stem cell technology.
The agreement, a significant step in the advancement of medical research and treatment, will pave the way for innovative approaches to addressing various medical conditions using stem cells.
Through these joint efforts, a research and development center will be established in the Faculty of Medicine at Kaduna State University, where the University of Indonesia will build the capacity of young medical scientists from KASU and other educational institutions aimed at achieving technology and knowledge transfer to Nigeria.
This will position Kaduna State and Nigeria to start the production and administration of stem cells to patients with different medical conditions. Also as part of the arrangement, AMA Pharmaceuticals, a private company located in Kaduna, will manufacture any product developed from the research for commercial use in the country.
A team of scientists and researchers in the field of stem cells from the University of Indonesia were in Kaduna where they held intensive and robust discussions with Kaduna State University, Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, AMA Foundation, and other stakeholders to facilitate the commencement of the program. The delegation was led by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Indonesia-Professor Dr. Ari Fahrial Syam, who said the Indonesian Government is fully supporting the initiative.
Kaduna State Deputy Governor-Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, who received the delegation from the University of Indonesia in her office, assured of Kaduna State’s strong commitment to supporting the initiatives.
“I want to specially welcome you to Government House Kaduna and Kaduna state. Thank you for coming and I appreciate you for the collaboration and the support you are giving to Kaduna State.”
The Deputy Governor also commended the Ambassador to Nigeria, HE Usman Ari ‘Ogah for facilitating the joint collaboration and for choosing Kaduna as the center for the program.
The Deputy Governor stated that the joint efforts will make Kaduna state the first in Nigeria to start using the new medical innovation in stem cells for treatments and management of patients, stating that this “will cut down the cost of medical tourism that Nigeria is grappling with.”
“I am pleased with the areas of collaboration you listed, and I want to assure you that the Kaduna State Government believes in partnerships and collaborations, especially if such partnerships will be for the greater good of the generality of the people.
“On behalf of His Excellency the Governor, Senator Uba Sani, I want to express our very strong commitment to this initiative and to assure you that we would maintain and keep an open door for further discussions and engagement with regard to what we want to achieve.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of AMA Foundation, Professor Nasidi said the objective of the partnership is technology and knowledge transfer from Indonesia to Nigeria through manpower development, explaining that the Faculty of Medicine of Kaduna State University has the technical and manpower capacity and will serve as the center for the research and development of stem cells.
Speaking on the significance of the collaboration, the Chief Medical Director of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Professor Abdullahi Musa Tabari said that as the future of medicine, stem cells can be used to completely treat both infectious and non-infectious diseases that are hitherto incurable.
The initiative was facilitated by the Nigerian Ambassador to Indonesia, HE Ambassador Usman Ari Ogah who was deeply motivated by the remarkable breakthroughs achieved in the treatment of degenerative and other medical conditions using stem cells. He said he and his family have been treated for degenerative diseases in Indonesia through stem cells which propelled him to initiate the discussions that led to the joint partnership between Universitas Indonesia, AMA Foundation, and Kaduna State University(KASU).
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