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Biochemical education in Nigeria — A report on a workshop and some of its results
16
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA - - A REPORT ON A WORKSHOP AND SOME OF ITS RESULTS
In December 1975 the Biochemistry section of the Science Association of Nigeria (SAN) held a two-day workshop on 'Biochemical Education in Nigeria' at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The purpose of the workshop was to review the content and methods of teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Biochemistry in Nigeria, including courses for future biochemists and courses for other groups: Medical, Veterinary and Pharmacy students etc. In carrying out the review the participants were asked to consider biochemical education in the light of national needs, the background of students and the resources in the various departments. The workshop was widely publicized within West Africa, by direct contact with biochemistry department end faculties of science throughout the region, and by means of articles, interviews and talks for press and radio. During the workshop the local radio reported on its discussions, and broadcast a panel interview with some of the participants. The International Union of Biochemistry supported the workshop by sending Dr. Bernard Kllby (Editor of Biochemical Education) as representative of the Educational Section, IUB; three firms, NAAFCO Ltd., Modern Supplies Ltd., and Nkwa Ltd., gave donations towards the expenses, and the Commonwealth end Nuffield Foundations made grants towards Dr. Turnbull's travel expenses. We are most grateful for the support and encouragement and these orgenisations and firms. Though organized by SAN, the meeting was opened to anyone who was interested and about 50 people took part, including staff from the Universities of Ibadan, Ife, Lages and Benin, together with repreresentatives from industry, members of the medical, veterinary and agriculture faculties at ABU, and a number of final year biochemistry students from ABU. Dr. Tumbull (Chafing Cross Hospital Medical School) and Dr. IGIby (Leeds University) were most welcome participants from overseas. Some of the speakers had sent in their papers or abstracts before hand, and copies were given to participants on arrival so that, during the workshop, most sessions were opened by one or two speakers summarizing the contents of their papers to provide the framework for the group discussion. At each session the group attempted to identify deficiences in the existing courses or prolFammes and to suggest long and short term remedies or improvements. We tried to formulate these remedies as precisely as potable for further action by members of the group either as individuals or as part of Science Association in Nigeria. The real success of the workshop, therefore will he measured by the success of these follow-up activities. Professor S. Olaitan (University of Benin) opened the workshop with a detailed analysis of types of research in University departments, a strong department being characterized by its active, productive commitment to research. He distinguished three classes of research: inter-departmental research, inter-disciplinary research and individual research. Inter-departmental collaborative team research, on depertmentally-defined ions-term projects would determine not only the special emphasis of each deparUnent but also its major equipment, and to some extent, its area of greatest expertise and would modify its recruiting policy. The departmental research themes should he founded in the local situation; but should not be restricted to solution of existing problems; as examples he cited the resem'ch on make venoms at Benin, and on aflatoxin at Ibadan. At the same time members of staff could undertake collaborative research on an inter-disciplinary basis with/n or outside their universities (for example, with a Government Research Institution), and could also carry out
January 1977 Vol. 5 No. 1
H. MARY HALLAWAY Department of Biochemistry A h m a d u Bello University Zaria, Nigeria
individual research on small short-term projects, probably directly relevant to a iocal ~ . Durlng the dkcnsslon, it b e e ~ ciear that while concentration (though not restriction) of the effort of department into particular fields or topics was desirable, most of the Departments in Nigeria are stm relatively small, and for each Department to provide advanced hm~ing over a broad range of topics at final year degree level would need inter-unive~:ty collaboration. Discussion also included the desirability of interuniversity collaboration In courses on techniques or ~ topics at
postgraduate level; the problem of servicingof equipment; whether equipment could be shared between universities, and the need for building up contacts with the National ~ Inst/tufions. Discussion of undergraduste teaching, which befjm with a review of the composition of existing courses for ~ ~ists and for medical, veterinary and pharmacy students, emphasized three themes - - (I) In specialist courses, there is a need to ~ the chemistry, physics and mathematics components of the courses as many students enter with at best, a 'O' level qualification in Physics, and also to provide final year teaching over a wide range of biochemical topics despite research specialization in the Departments. (2) Turning to service eom'sos, the group considered the problem (not unique to Nigeria) of ~ n o a subject which the students tend to regard as difficult and sontewhat irrekvant. A suggestion was made that service courses could best be taught by biochemists located not in a main biochemistry d e p o t , but as staff members of the faculties concerned. This idea was not found congenial, isolated biochemists or even small ' ~ ' departments, especially in professionally oriented faculties could and did become isolated; the group reeomrmmded inter.faculty research as a valuable way to build up the professional collaboration which was a sound basis for 'service' teaching. (3) Dr. Kllby and Dr. Turnbull gave stimulating reviews of different techniques used in teaching; though both emphasized that many of these additional methods which may he more effective for some purposes tlum the traditional chalk and talk or a tutorial required great deal of preparation time and considerable skill in use. The workshop was impressed by Dr. Turnbull's materials for small group teaching but was rather daunted by the time end skill needed to prepare them. There was general agreement that if such materials (diagrams, models, tapes etc.) were prepared in one Department, they should he made available to others, so that the time put into preparing them benefited the maximum number of students. Extemive interuniversity collaboration would mean all departments benefited from their combined experience end efforts. Finally, the workshop reviewed opportunities for biochemistry graduates outside the universities and l~,march Institutes. A major field (hmpital work) is at present not readily accessible, and research development in the food and ~ industries are still in their early stages in Nigeria. The National ~ ]Bkntrdhas no projections for the requirement for biochemists who are simply grouped with other scientists. At a follow-up meeting of the Biochemistry Section held during the March meetingof SAN at ABU, the section set up two groups to carry forward the plans made at the December workshop. One group is to orgenlas • meeting in November 1976 at Enugu or Nsukka between the National Council for Sclanee and Technology and Industry on the one hand end the ~ ~ t s of Biochemistry on the other on " ~ in National Development". This meeting is designed to identify what part biochemists can play, and also to find out the requirements of government and
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION
January 1977 Vol. 5 No. 1
industry to enable the departments to provide appropriate training, possibly by postgraduate diplomas, specialst M.Sc. courses etc. A second group is to work out the mechanism and organization of semi-formal but flexible inter-university coUoboration in advance teaching and research. The Biochemistry section working through the council of SAN is also planning to develop more awareness at all levels of what biochemists can contribute to health care and research. In retrospect, and particularly after the follow-up meeting in March, the Zaria Workshop can be classified not only as enjoyable and stimulating to those who attended, but as likely to have some far reaching and beneficial effects on biochemical education in Nigeria and on place of biochemists in the development of the country. Cyclostyled copies of the papers which were basis for discussion at the workshop are available, free of charge. The titles are listed below: would anyone who would like a copy or copies, please write to: Dr. A. A. Odutuga, Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu BeUo University, Zaria, stating their requirements.
2. 'A case for inter-university collaboration among Biochemistry Departments'. A. Aboderin, University of Lagos.
1. 'Undergraduate courses leading to B.Sc. Degree in Biochemistry'. A. I. Akinwande, E. O. Akinrimisi, University of Lagos.
THE CASE FOR A NEW JOURNAL FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE LIFE SCIENCES IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Any scientist who, travelling from a country where his science is flourishing to a country where his colleagues are struggling to do research under adverse conditions, asks some rather worrying questions on his return. His first question is whether it is necessary for the University teachers in the so-called developing country to be pursuing research at all. The answer is usually in the affirmative for it is realised that unless at least some of the staff in a department are actively pursuing research then it is not possible for the teaching to be enlivened by modern developments, in short the staff cannot even tune in to the literature. The second question probably asks what kind of research should be done. Very often some of the staff will have visited a far away country as postdoctoral research workers and on their return dream of setting up a laboratory which would be a miniature of that of the Nobel Prize winner who served as host. This is a hopeless dream and they soon get discouraged. This is therefore no answer. A more likely answer is that the staff should be encouraged to pursue research work that is relevant to the local problems. Suppose however that a nice piece of work is indeed accomplished. Where can it be published? - - for without publication, the researcher has no real objective or incentive. Maybe there is a local journal but very often this has no international recognition and so the publication is not highly regarded by his colleagues either at home or overseas. On the other hand if the paper be sent to an international journal it has to compete for space with the work of leading laboratories with splendid resources and so does not stand much chance of publication. If I am right in my prognosis we see a major reason for the low output of research from laboratories in developing countries. This I believe is serious for unless something is done about it, the development of science in these countries will be severely retarded. I would like to suggest that a new journal could do something to encourage research work. Since I am concerned with the life sciences I confine my remarks at this stage to a proposal in this area of science. I believe that it is sensible too to limit the field and that the life sciences are those that are likely to be developed most rapidly. First, the journal must be recoguised internationally. This means
17
3. 'Towards upgrading nutrition and nutrition education in Nigerian universities and medical schools'. P . O . Egwem, University of Nigeria, Enugu. 4. 'Biochemistry in industry.' A. M. Mshelia, Nigerian Breweries, Kaduna. 5. 'Job opportunities for biochemists and training for them'. A. A. Odutuga, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Abstracts 'Reinforcement learning and self-instructional units'. J. Turnbuli, Charing Cross Hospital, Medical School. 'Instruction in Biochemical methods and instrumentation for B.Sc. Biochemistry students'. B. E. lsbell, Ahmadu Belio University, Zaria.
P. N. CAMPBELL C h a i r m a n of the I.U.B. Education Committee
that it requires an editorial board that should have a substantial sprinkling of people who are well renowned and who can exercise a proper concern for the standards and objectives of the Journal. Second, it must be produced economically. One would hope that the editors would give their services as a contribution towards the development of their science. I suggest a format like FEBS Letters with retyped papers reproduced photographically. It will still need finance and help. Perhaps UNESCO could enter into a contract at least for the first few years and the appropriate international unions could support the venture. Third, the contents. The object would be to encourage sound research based either on local problems or local material in terms of fauna or animals. The work should be original but not perhaps as original as is expected of papers in the leading international journals. Thus some repetition of work done elsewhere using a new species would be acceptable. A particular feature of the Journal would be that the editors and/or referees would be expected to comment in a constructive manner on the contents of the papers so as to guide the authors and provide encouragement. Since the papers would be rather short (FEBS Letters) this would not be too great a problem. Fourth, the kind of countries in mind. There should be no firm limitation for there are pockets of scientist who are badly in need of recognition and encouragement even in comparatively affluent areas. The main objective however would be to help scientists in areas such as the Middle East, Africa, India, Malaysia, Latin America. Fifth, what could the journal be called. I think it very undesirable to include any mention of developing countries. The main emphasis as already mentioned should be on local research. A possible name would be Journal of Endogenous Research in the Life Sciences (JERLS). Endogenous is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as "growing from within". Indigenous is similarly defined as "native, belonging nationally". I therefore prefer Endogenous and this is a work well known by UNESCO who use the same definition. The above idea arose out of a discussion I had with Professor Sidney Shall of Sussex University when I was trying to describe to him the problems of encouraging scientist in places like Ghana and the role of I.U.B in such activities.
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA - - A REPORT ON A WORKSHOP AND SOME OF ITS RESULTS
In December 1975 the Biochemistry section of the Science Association of Nigeria (SAN) held a two-day workshop on 'Biochemical Education in Nigeria' at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The purpose of the workshop was to review the content and methods of teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Biochemistry in Nigeria, including courses for future biochemists and courses for other groups: Medical, Veterinary and Pharmacy students etc. In carrying out the review the participants were asked to consider biochemical education in the light of national needs, the background of students and the resources in the various departments. The workshop was widely publicized within West Africa, by direct contact with biochemistry department end faculties of science throughout the region, and by means of articles, interviews and talks for press and radio. During the workshop the local radio reported on its discussions, and broadcast a panel interview with some of the participants. The International Union of Biochemistry supported the workshop by sending Dr. Bernard Kllby (Editor of Biochemical Education) as representative of the Educational Section, IUB; three firms, NAAFCO Ltd., Modern Supplies Ltd., and Nkwa Ltd., gave donations towards the expenses, and the Commonwealth end Nuffield Foundations made grants towards Dr. Turnbull's travel expenses. We are most grateful for the support and encouragement and these orgenisations and firms. Though organized by SAN, the meeting was opened to anyone who was interested and about 50 people took part, including staff from the Universities of Ibadan, Ife, Lages and Benin, together with repreresentatives from industry, members of the medical, veterinary and agriculture faculties at ABU, and a number of final year biochemistry students from ABU. Dr. Tumbull (Chafing Cross Hospital Medical School) and Dr. IGIby (Leeds University) were most welcome participants from overseas. Some of the speakers had sent in their papers or abstracts before hand, and copies were given to participants on arrival so that, during the workshop, most sessions were opened by one or two speakers summarizing the contents of their papers to provide the framework for the group discussion. At each session the group attempted to identify deficiences in the existing courses or prolFammes and to suggest long and short term remedies or improvements. We tried to formulate these remedies as precisely as potable for further action by members of the group either as individuals or as part of Science Association in Nigeria. The real success of the workshop, therefore will he measured by the success of these follow-up activities. Professor S. Olaitan (University of Benin) opened the workshop with a detailed analysis of types of research in University departments, a strong department being characterized by its active, productive commitment to research. He distinguished three classes of research: inter-departmental research, inter-disciplinary research and individual research. Inter-departmental collaborative team research, on depertmentally-defined ions-term projects would determine not only the special emphasis of each deparUnent but also its major equipment, and to some extent, its area of greatest expertise and would modify its recruiting policy. The departmental research themes should he founded in the local situation; but should not be restricted to solution of existing problems; as examples he cited the resem'ch on make venoms at Benin, and on aflatoxin at Ibadan. At the same time members of staff could undertake collaborative research on an inter-disciplinary basis with/n or outside their universities (for example, with a Government Research Institution), and could also carry out
January 1977 Vol. 5 No. 1
H. MARY HALLAWAY Department of Biochemistry A h m a d u Bello University Zaria, Nigeria
individual research on small short-term projects, probably directly relevant to a iocal ~ . Durlng the dkcnsslon, it b e e ~ ciear that while concentration (though not restriction) of the effort of department into particular fields or topics was desirable, most of the Departments in Nigeria are stm relatively small, and for each Department to provide advanced hm~ing over a broad range of topics at final year degree level would need inter-unive~:ty collaboration. Discussion also included the desirability of interuniversity collaboration In courses on techniques or ~ topics at
postgraduate level; the problem of servicingof equipment; whether equipment could be shared between universities, and the need for building up contacts with the National ~ Inst/tufions. Discussion of undergraduste teaching, which befjm with a review of the composition of existing courses for ~ ~ists and for medical, veterinary and pharmacy students, emphasized three themes - - (I) In specialist courses, there is a need to ~ the chemistry, physics and mathematics components of the courses as many students enter with at best, a 'O' level qualification in Physics, and also to provide final year teaching over a wide range of biochemical topics despite research specialization in the Departments. (2) Turning to service eom'sos, the group considered the problem (not unique to Nigeria) of ~ n o a subject which the students tend to regard as difficult and sontewhat irrekvant. A suggestion was made that service courses could best be taught by biochemists located not in a main biochemistry d e p o t , but as staff members of the faculties concerned. This idea was not found congenial, isolated biochemists or even small ' ~ ' departments, especially in professionally oriented faculties could and did become isolated; the group reeomrmmded inter.faculty research as a valuable way to build up the professional collaboration which was a sound basis for 'service' teaching. (3) Dr. Kllby and Dr. Turnbull gave stimulating reviews of different techniques used in teaching; though both emphasized that many of these additional methods which may he more effective for some purposes tlum the traditional chalk and talk or a tutorial required great deal of preparation time and considerable skill in use. The workshop was impressed by Dr. Turnbull's materials for small group teaching but was rather daunted by the time end skill needed to prepare them. There was general agreement that if such materials (diagrams, models, tapes etc.) were prepared in one Department, they should he made available to others, so that the time put into preparing them benefited the maximum number of students. Extemive interuniversity collaboration would mean all departments benefited from their combined experience end efforts. Finally, the workshop reviewed opportunities for biochemistry graduates outside the universities and l~,march Institutes. A major field (hmpital work) is at present not readily accessible, and research development in the food and ~ industries are still in their early stages in Nigeria. The National ~ ]Bkntrdhas no projections for the requirement for biochemists who are simply grouped with other scientists. At a follow-up meeting of the Biochemistry Section held during the March meetingof SAN at ABU, the section set up two groups to carry forward the plans made at the December workshop. One group is to orgenlas • meeting in November 1976 at Enugu or Nsukka between the National Council for Sclanee and Technology and Industry on the one hand end the ~ ~ t s of Biochemistry on the other on " ~ in National Development". This meeting is designed to identify what part biochemists can play, and also to find out the requirements of government and
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION
January 1977 Vol. 5 No. 1
industry to enable the departments to provide appropriate training, possibly by postgraduate diplomas, specialst M.Sc. courses etc. A second group is to work out the mechanism and organization of semi-formal but flexible inter-university coUoboration in advance teaching and research. The Biochemistry section working through the council of SAN is also planning to develop more awareness at all levels of what biochemists can contribute to health care and research. In retrospect, and particularly after the follow-up meeting in March, the Zaria Workshop can be classified not only as enjoyable and stimulating to those who attended, but as likely to have some far reaching and beneficial effects on biochemical education in Nigeria and on place of biochemists in the development of the country. Cyclostyled copies of the papers which were basis for discussion at the workshop are available, free of charge. The titles are listed below: would anyone who would like a copy or copies, please write to: Dr. A. A. Odutuga, Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu BeUo University, Zaria, stating their requirements.
2. 'A case for inter-university collaboration among Biochemistry Departments'. A. Aboderin, University of Lagos.
1. 'Undergraduate courses leading to B.Sc. Degree in Biochemistry'. A. I. Akinwande, E. O. Akinrimisi, University of Lagos.
THE CASE FOR A NEW JOURNAL FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE LIFE SCIENCES IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Any scientist who, travelling from a country where his science is flourishing to a country where his colleagues are struggling to do research under adverse conditions, asks some rather worrying questions on his return. His first question is whether it is necessary for the University teachers in the so-called developing country to be pursuing research at all. The answer is usually in the affirmative for it is realised that unless at least some of the staff in a department are actively pursuing research then it is not possible for the teaching to be enlivened by modern developments, in short the staff cannot even tune in to the literature. The second question probably asks what kind of research should be done. Very often some of the staff will have visited a far away country as postdoctoral research workers and on their return dream of setting up a laboratory which would be a miniature of that of the Nobel Prize winner who served as host. This is a hopeless dream and they soon get discouraged. This is therefore no answer. A more likely answer is that the staff should be encouraged to pursue research work that is relevant to the local problems. Suppose however that a nice piece of work is indeed accomplished. Where can it be published? - - for without publication, the researcher has no real objective or incentive. Maybe there is a local journal but very often this has no international recognition and so the publication is not highly regarded by his colleagues either at home or overseas. On the other hand if the paper be sent to an international journal it has to compete for space with the work of leading laboratories with splendid resources and so does not stand much chance of publication. If I am right in my prognosis we see a major reason for the low output of research from laboratories in developing countries. This I believe is serious for unless something is done about it, the development of science in these countries will be severely retarded. I would like to suggest that a new journal could do something to encourage research work. Since I am concerned with the life sciences I confine my remarks at this stage to a proposal in this area of science. I believe that it is sensible too to limit the field and that the life sciences are those that are likely to be developed most rapidly. First, the journal must be recoguised internationally. This means
17
3. 'Towards upgrading nutrition and nutrition education in Nigerian universities and medical schools'. P . O . Egwem, University of Nigeria, Enugu. 4. 'Biochemistry in industry.' A. M. Mshelia, Nigerian Breweries, Kaduna. 5. 'Job opportunities for biochemists and training for them'. A. A. Odutuga, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Abstracts 'Reinforcement learning and self-instructional units'. J. Turnbuli, Charing Cross Hospital, Medical School. 'Instruction in Biochemical methods and instrumentation for B.Sc. Biochemistry students'. B. E. lsbell, Ahmadu Belio University, Zaria.
P. N. CAMPBELL C h a i r m a n of the I.U.B. Education Committee
that it requires an editorial board that should have a substantial sprinkling of people who are well renowned and who can exercise a proper concern for the standards and objectives of the Journal. Second, it must be produced economically. One would hope that the editors would give their services as a contribution towards the development of their science. I suggest a format like FEBS Letters with retyped papers reproduced photographically. It will still need finance and help. Perhaps UNESCO could enter into a contract at least for the first few years and the appropriate international unions could support the venture. Third, the contents. The object would be to encourage sound research based either on local problems or local material in terms of fauna or animals. The work should be original but not perhaps as original as is expected of papers in the leading international journals. Thus some repetition of work done elsewhere using a new species would be acceptable. A particular feature of the Journal would be that the editors and/or referees would be expected to comment in a constructive manner on the contents of the papers so as to guide the authors and provide encouragement. Since the papers would be rather short (FEBS Letters) this would not be too great a problem. Fourth, the kind of countries in mind. There should be no firm limitation for there are pockets of scientist who are badly in need of recognition and encouragement even in comparatively affluent areas. The main objective however would be to help scientists in areas such as the Middle East, Africa, India, Malaysia, Latin America. Fifth, what could the journal be called. I think it very undesirable to include any mention of developing countries. The main emphasis as already mentioned should be on local research. A possible name would be Journal of Endogenous Research in the Life Sciences (JERLS). Endogenous is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as "growing from within". Indigenous is similarly defined as "native, belonging nationally". I therefore prefer Endogenous and this is a work well known by UNESCO who use the same definition. The above idea arose out of a discussion I had with Professor Sidney Shall of Sussex University when I was trying to describe to him the problems of encouraging scientist in places like Ghana and the role of I.U.B in such activities.