ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF ANATOMICAL SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (ASN), PROFESSOR BERNARD U. ENAIBE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 18TH ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) HELD AT FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE-EKITI, ON THURSDAY 2ND FEBRUARY 2023.
Preamble - It is my honour and with great pleasure that I welcome you all to Ekiti State, the Land of Honour and Integrity for the 18th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Anatomical Society of Nigeria (ASN). I wish to specially welcome all delegates both Physical and Virtual, particularly our keynote Speakers, Professor Oladapo A. Ashiru (MBBS; FASN, OFR) and Prof. S. B. Danborno (PhD; FASN) for their willingness and acceptance to be our Special Guests despite their very busy schedules. I am also grateful to God for travelling mercy granted all participants from across Nigeria in spite of the distance and challenges associated with local transportation. You are most welcome to the beautiful campus of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, our venue and host for the 18TH Scientific meeting.
Conference focus - Our theme for this year is ‘’Anatomy, the Backbone of Medical Science’’. These are geared towards the exploration of the diverse professional areas of Anatomical Sciences which will create entrepreneurship for the burgeoning areas of the anatomical cohorts of young scientists choosing anatomy for their carrier. The next plausible thing to do was to re-appraise the methods by which we deliver the Science of Anatomy to our students. Indeed, after an exhaustive resolution on the need to review the Anatomy ACT of 1933 in order to reflect the current direction of anatomy practice globally, It is important to mention that the process of re-enacting the Anatomy Act of 1933 has passed the Public hearing. We are very hopeful and ever committed to ensuring that the amendment process receive the necessary legislative backing in the shortest time possible. We solicit for your maximal cooperation and support as we embark on advocacy drive among all stakeholders.
Other Matters - Apart from ensuring that we host a successful Scientific Conference here is Oye-Ekiti, the Anatomical Society of Nigeria (ASN) is also in support of the current drive of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to position the Nigerian Universities among the best globally, and to ensure that the graduates of Nigerian Universities acquire requisite skills for Post-graduation challenges. To this end, the ASN has identified with the on-going general review of programme curricula in Nigerian Universities and has made necessary contributions to the curriculum review process in Anatomy. Fortunately, our Society had taken a proactive step long before the NUC initiative to overhaul our B.Sc. Anatomy Curriculum in order to position it for entrepreneurial base and competitiveness through the late Professor T. B. Ekanem-led Curriculum Review Committee from 2011 to 2019. This Curriculum was submitted to the NUC Executive Secretary Prof. Rasheed in person in June 2022 at the NUC headquarters in Abuja. Prof. Rasheed promised to look into it before the CCMAS comes out but this curriculum is not reflected in the CCMAS released for B.Sc. Anatomy. I wish to use this medium to appeal to all Heads of Department here present physically and virtually to ensure that you make necessary contributions to the on-going CCMAS Review exercise using the template of the ASN reviewed document, in order to achieve standard and uniformity. The Society will again submit a BSc Anatomy Curriculum agreed upon by all the stake holders in the teaching of Anatomy in Nigeria.
Another area of interest to the leadership and members of the editorial board is the continued regular production of our journal ‘The Journal of Anatomical Sciences’, which is published biannually (in March and September of every year). Apart from ensuring regularity in the publication, this administration should be remembered for maintaining high quality and standard, which has earned the journal world class indexing. It will interest us to know that the demand for the journal by Departments and institutional Libraries has increased greatly in recent times, majorly due to accreditation requirements. Members are therefore encouraged to take full advantage and not only publish their scientific findings in the journal but also obtain copies for their personal libraries. I have the assurance of the Editor-In-Chief that the current issue will be in circulation at this conference. We wish to appreciate the Editor-In-Chief, Prof. E. J. Olotu and her editorial team for the good job.
Conclusion - As I conclude, it is expected that the 18th Scientific Conference will also be an undisputable platform for cross fertilization of scientific ideas, academic socialization and institutional networking. I am confident that the conference will spur members into more innovative research in the Anatomical Sciences. Participants are encouraged to take opportunity of this special gathering to interact freely and enrich their experience.
It is my pleasure to specially invite Faculty members to the 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Society holding on Friday 3rd February, 2023.
May I also profoundly appreciate the LOC and Management of Federal University Oye-Ekiti for accepting to host the 18th Scientific conference in spite of the seemingly economic and logistic challenges associated with the organization. I particularly appreciate the LOC for the choice our guest lecturers and more importantly, the sacrifice of Professor Oladapo A. Ashiru MBBS: FASN; OFR; as the plenary Session Speaker. Secondly, and on behalf of NEC, I wish to sincerely appreciate every congress member for the confidence reposed in this leadership in the last one year and five months, in piloting the affairs of Africa’s most populous Association of Anatomists (300 and still counting). Whatever successes we have recorded in the course of our stewardship are primarily due to your cooperation and unalloyed support. I wish to commend the continued participation of our esteemed students particularly the undergraduates in all our conferences though due to the situation in the country we only permit them to attend virtually. It is hoped that your participation in ‘FUOYE 2023’ will be fruitful as you learn and interact meaningfully but virtually.
Finally, on behalf of the Executives and members of ASN, I want to convey my gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A. S. Fashina of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, and Local Organising Committee (LOC) Members for accepting to host this Conference.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish you all very fruitful deliberations.
Thank you for listening and God Bless you all.
Long live Nigeria! Long Live ASN!!
Professor Bernard U. Enaibe (PhD; FASN; FECAN; FIIMA)
President, Anatomical Society of Nigeria (ASN)
