Nigeria’s premier university, the University of Ibadan (UI), has announced plans to develop a vaccine for the dreaded Ebola Vírus Disease (EVD), which presently has no known cure.

This cheering news was broken yesterday by UI Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, while speaking at a Town Hall Discourse on Ebola held at the Trenchard Hall of the institution.

“This institution has not gone to sleep as we are planning to develop a capacity with our virology laboratory, so as to create an effective vaccine for it,” Prof. Adewole said.

He disclosed that the main objective of the programme was to educate the UI community and its secondary audience on the scientific signs, and prevention of the Ebola vírus from spreading into the institution.

“This is not the time to start panicking as it is preventable. We must not even trivialise the culture of handshaking. Let us not bring this issue down to a ridiculous state. Ebola cannot spread through the air, but by direct contact with the body fluid,” Prof. Adewole stated.

He declared that Nigeria remains safe despite being subjected to a biological attack from late Liberian-American, Partrick Sawyer, who imported Ebola into the country late last month.

Speaking at the occasion, Prof. David Olaleye of the Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, maintained that the institution has the objective of fighting Ebola virus.

Highlighting the preventive measures, he advised participants to wash their hands with soap regularly under running water; use hand sanitizers whenever soap and water are not available; avoid picking dead animals, and wear personal protective equipment if one must care for anyone suspected of having Ebola disease.

On his part, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Alada, advised students to internalise the information they obtained at the discourse, and maintain effective personal hygiene to prevent themselves from contracting the disease.

Apart from the panelists, the event was graced by principal officers, staffers and students of UI, as well as members of the public.

•Photo by Mayowa Okekale shows a cross section of participants at the forum on Ebola awareness, held at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.