The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi has stated that the university is well endowed with the human capacity to offer what it takes to bring about the required development of the institution.

Prof Florence Obi stated this while declaring open a one-week training workshop organized by the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology held at the late Prof Spencer Efem lecture Hall located at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital on the theme, '' Molecular and Computational Biology''.

The Vice-Chancellor who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Angela Oyo-Ita, commended the efforts of the Dean and the entire Genetics and Biotechnology Department staff for the progress made in the last 21-years, notably the exploitation of several avenues in the institution to showcase its potentials.

The University Helmsman expressed her pleasure over the initiation of the workshop saying that the training covered so many spheres of discipline, so much so that, many other programmes can benefit from it.

She reiterated the need for everyone to move on in sync with the world, which has moved on, adding that lecturers should go beyond research and include capacity building which will be of great benefit to the entire community and the world at large.

Prof. Obi urged the various departments to maximize the resources available in promoting the institution and hence, take it to greater heights by adopting innovations.

In a remark, the Deputy Director, National Biotechnology Agency (NABDA) Dr Shakirat Oloruntoyin, who represented the Director-General/CEO of NABDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha commended the Genetics and Biotechnology Department for promoting biotechnology activities in the University.

She affirmed that the agency is delighted to be in collaboration with the University, assuring that the agency is ever ready to support and assist the Department in any project, so long as it has to do with biotechnology activities.

The Deputy Director said that the agency was doing all within her means to promote Technological Laboratories to a more advanced level to enhance the development of the health, agricultural, environmental and entrepreneurial sectors.

Speaking earlier, the Dean of Biological Sciences, Prof. Okpok Okon, especially, commended Dr Valentine Ntui, a lecturer in the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology for supporting the growth of Biotechnology activities with the assistance of Tetfund in the purchase of standard equipment for the laboratory, stating that he deserves an accolade.

Prof. Okpok also lauded the invaluable support of the Vice-Chancellor and the University Management in ensuring a constant supply of power to enable the laboratory to function effectively.

The Head of Department (HOD), Biological Sciences, Dr. (Mrs) Aniefok Osuagwu, in her welcome address, commended the rapid growth of the department, saying that, since 2001 to date, the department has graduated over 5,000 students spread across different parts of the globe, most of whom have returned and joined the faculty and have risen in the job to the professional cadre.

Dr Aniefok Osuagwu who referred to the Genetics and Biotechnology Department as a place of integrity, determination and scholarship disclosed that the department has active collaborations with Universities and research institutions in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Japan, Brazil, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

The training workshop also featured a keynote presentation on the topic, "Advances in Molecular Biology: Methodology and Applications in Health, Agriculture, Environment, Lifestyle and Law" by an erudite scholar from the United States, Dr Richard Somiari.