Memorandum of Understanding

Dr Charles Ologunde, Dr. Theresa Taiwo Akande, Professor April McMahon and Mrs Adeniran Stephania Odusade welcoming the partnership between Aberystwyth University and the Federal Polytechnic of Ado-Ekiti.

Dr Charles Ologunde, Dr. Theresa Taiwo Akande, Professor April McMahon and Mrs Adeniran Stephania Odusade welcoming the partnership between Aberystwyth University and the Federal Polytechnic of Ado-Ekiti.

18 August 2014

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Monday 18 August by Ado-Ekiti Rector Dr. Theresa Taiwo Akande and Professor April McMahon of Aberystwyth University.

The MoU forms the basis for the development of a series of joint programmes between Ado-Ekti and the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS).

Areas of research at IBERS which are being considered include food security led by ; Schistosomiasis, the parasitic disease which is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, which is being led by Professor Karl Hoffman and Dr Iain Chalmers; research into mapping Malaria which is being led by Professor Chris Thomas and Dr Donall Cross and work on identifying medicinally relevant natural products led by Dr Ifat Parveen.

Professor April McMahon said: “As a leading UK research institution, Aberystwyth University has many long established and important research links with universities and research institutes around the World. It is a delight to be able to extend this network with the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Polytechnic of Ado-Ekti.”

“IBERS is a world leading Institute working on some of the key challenges facing the world today, those of food, water and energy security and there is much that both institutions can gain from collaborating in these areas. For many living with the daily reality of malaria and parasitic diseases such as Schistosomiasis, a condition that affects an estimated 120 million people world-wide and the premature deaths of as many as 200,000 people annually, such collaboration is essential as scientists seek to develop vaccines and treatments that will, in time, transform lives.”

Ado-Ekiti Federal Polytechnic Rector Dr. Theresa Taiwo Akande was accompanied during the visit by the Polytechnic’s Registrar, Mrs Adeniran Stephania Odusade, and the Director of Research, Dr Charles Ologunde.