The Vice Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu said sustainable systems for health are the foundation for defeating today’s infectious diseases.

The Vice Chancellor stated this in an opening remarks at the Nineteenth Inaugural Lecture on, “Mathematical ModelAs A Recipe for the Control of Infectious Diseases: Perceived Benefits Versus Unintended Consequences”, presented by Professor Musa Bawa and held at the Main Campus Auditorium.

Professor Abu Kasim noted that the Nigerian Medical Practitioners and financial experts have all the opportunities to be rightly informed through various media house on the current issues on perceived benefits and unintended consequences of infectious diseases ravaging the nation.

The Vice Chancellor congratulated Professor Musa Bawa for being the nineteenth Inaugural Lecturer as well as accepting the challenge which is very critical for every scholars, adding that he has achieved one of the cardinal dreams of being an astute academic, urging other academics in IBB University who have attained the rank of professor to join the queue, assuring them of the Management readiness and support as well as other scholarly efforts that would positively transform the society.

Earlier in his welcome Address, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Conferences and Seminar, Professor Victor Are Kolawole explained that the Inaugural Lecture Series nineteenth is very apt and topical given the emerging and re-emerging situations of our time.

Professor Kolawole added that the aim of the Inaugural Lecture included mandating all Professors to give inaugural lectures within two to three years of their promotion or appointment, adding that it offers a professor a unique opportunity to showcase his or her work in the field of specialization to merit his admission to club of professors, bringing a sense of fulfillment, self actualization and belonging to the inaugural lectures among other opportunities.

He further added that the primary goal of the committee was to ensure that the inaugural lectures are delivered as at when due in line with the waiting two to three years after promotion or appointment as professors as stipulated by Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU).

Professor Kolawole also announced that there will be other Inaugural Lectures to be delivered by Professor Salihu Muhammad Niwuro of Political Sciences in September; Professor Musa Dickson Achimugu of Biological Sciences to be delivered in October, and Professor Lawal Salahu of History and International Studies to be delivered on November twenty twenty three respectfully.

Also the Representative of the Visitor and Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Abdullahi Adamu Mammagi said the administration of Governor Muhammad Umaru Bago is placing high premium on providing an enabling teaching and learning environment as part of his human development plan so as guarantee production of quality graduates across all Tertiary Institutions.

Mammagi stated that plans are already underway to engage the TETFUND with the view of attracting more additional grants for the overall development of the sector in the state.

Presenting his Inaugural Lecture, Professor Musa Bawa explained that the history of mankind has been shaped by the pitiless outbreaks of infectious disease pandemic.

He said in the last decades, emerging and re-emerging epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and measles cause death to millions of people each year, and recently the Covid-19 Pandemic, affirming that Mathematical modelling over the years has been beneficial in examining various diseases dynamics and plays an essential role in the understanding of epidemics noting that it plays an essential role in the understanding of epidemiological designs for disease control.

Professor Musa restated that Mathematical model is developed in order to enhance ability to understand, predict and control behavior of the system being modelled, adding that it is a tool for ensuring healthy population and infact a veritable tool for national development in all ramifications.

The Inaugural Lecturer said efforts should be intensified to significantly reduce the number of missing people with HIV, TB, COVIC-19 and other infectious diseases, calling on Government and Non-Governmental Organizations to extensively utilize the quantitative information emanating from scientific research particularly mathematical models.

In a Vote of thanks, the Registrar of Alhaji Idris Saleh Kusherki appreciated the Governor of Niger State, Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Council and Management of the University and all other people present at the events.