UB Inaugurates Center for Drug Discovery

The University of Buea (UB) Tuesday, February 4, inaugurated a Center for Drug Discovery, a step towards professionalising education in the institution.

The inauguration was carried out by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Prof Wilfred Gabsa. This was in the presence UB’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Horace Ngomo Manga, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, the Registrar, Deans, Directors and academic staff.

The center focuses on discovering new therapies for diseases that primarily affect Africans. It will be using naturally occurring compounds from African medicinal plants and other African sources.

It is now the first Drug Discovery Center in Central Africa and the second in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Prof Wilfred Gabsa lauded UB for taking the bold move “to lead the development of novel therapeutics tailored towards improving the health outcomes of millions of Africans…”

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ngomo Manga, said the center proves the commitment of UB scientists to improve the lives of the population.

Other speakers at the inauguration event hailed Dr. Fidele Ntie-Kang, Principal Investigator and Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Buea, for bringing the project to reality.

Prof Ntie-Kang, who heads the center, is its vision bearer. His ingenuity caused the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to award him a grant in 2021. He has used this to construct and equip the center.