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From Oluwadare Taiwo, Ibadan
Scientists, diplomats, and health policymakers from across the world converged on Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, for a five-day international conference on “The intersection of genomics, One Health, and climate change in emerging disease control.”
The conference, held from Saturday, October 26 to Thursday, October 30, 2025, was organised by the Humboldt Research Hub-Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (HRH-CERID) and jointly sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Bayer Foundation.
The event focused on strengthening global collaboration in the post-COVID-19 era through the integration of genomic science, environmental health, and climate research to prevent and manage future disease outbreaks.
Speaking at the opening session, the German Consul General in Lagos, Ambassador Daniel Kroll, said Germany remains committed to supporting Nigerian researchers working in genomics and disease surveillance.
He said: “Our approach is to encourage researchers to move out of their silos and engage in cross-disciplinary work. This is the backbone of the One Health concept: bringing together genomics and climate science to combat emerging diseases.”
Kroll urged Nigerian scientists to advance beyond pathogen identification to vaccine development. “After identifying viruses, the next step is designing vaccines and building competence in Africa for true vaccine production,” he added.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH, Professor Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Development), Professor Tunde Ogunkunle, stressed the importance of environmental preservation in maintaining public health.
He said: “We are part of the environment. When the environment is healthy, humans are healthy. This conference emphasises the intersection between genomics, environment, and health because whatever affects the ecosystem ultimately affects people.”
Ogunkunle described LAUTECH as a centre for innovation and applied research, adding that the institution’s focus remains on developing scientific solutions that directly benefit society.
Also speaking, Professor Olushola Ojurongbe, a medical parasitologist and key organiser of the conference, said the post-pandemic world has demonstrated the vital role of genomics in tracking and managing infectious diseases.
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He said: “COVID-19 showed that genomics is critical in surveillance and diagnosis. Human, animal, and environmental health are interlinked, and climate change is influencing disease transmission.”
Ojurongbe noted that Nigeria’s genomic infrastructure has expanded significantly since the pandemic, citing the NCDC’s genomic laboratory in Lagos and HRH-CERID’s facility at LAUTECH as examples of progress in the field.
He stated: “Nigeria’s genomic landscape is growing stronger, and centres like ours have contributed to the development of the country’s genomic policy.”
Associate Director of the Bayer Foundation, Ms Tatjana Gust, said the foundation remains committed to supporting scientific capacity building in Africa through collaborations with institutions like HRH-CERID.
She said: “Supporting centres such as HRH-CERID is vital for strengthening resilience in global health. Collaboration is key because what affects Africa affects the rest of the world.”
Gust called for increased funding and stronger partnerships to sustain research and train future generations of African scientists.
Delivering a goodwill message, Professor Adenike I. Olugbenga-Bello, Provost of the College of Health Sciences, LAUTECH, described the conference as “a convergence of science, humanity, and foresight.”
She said: “The future of global health security lies in collaboration across borders and disciplines. Genomics gives us the power to understand pathogens, trace viral evolution, and design targeted interventions.”
Olugbenga-Bello reaffirmed the college’s commitment to advancing research and policy initiatives that support Nigeria’s preparedness for future pandemics, while commending HRH-CERID for promoting scientific integrity and international cooperation.
The five-day conference featured technical sessions, panel discussions, and policy dialogues on genomic surveillance, vaccine development, and climate-related disease control. Participants included scholars and officials from Germany, Nigeria, and other countries.
