Ambode, Canadian Governor General To Commission New Biosecurity Lab

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode will, on Tuesday, join the Governor General of Canada, Rt Hon Julie Payette to inaugurate a new biosecurity laboratory in Lagos.

In a statement on Sunday, the Lagos State Government said the inauguration of the State Biobank, located at the Mainland Hospital in Yaba, will take place where the isolation unit used by the State Government to contain the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak was situated.

The laboratory, the statement expatiated, is funded by Canada in partnership with the state government, and would serve as a single repository for all high-concentration pathogens in the state. It would also help the state mitigate post-EVD threats and build capacity for prevention, detection and response to future outbreaks in Nigeria and West Africa.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, would also be part of the delegation to accompany Governor Ambode to receive Hon. Payette at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport and thereafter proceed to unveil the new facility.

After the inauguration of the Biosecurity Laboratory, the Canadian Governor General would also visit students participating in the CodeLagos computer literacy programme.

“Her Excellency will visit Akande Dahunsi Memorial Senior High School to interact with students taking part in the CodeLagos program and talk to them about her background in informatics. During this time, members of the Canadian delegation will give presentations on their own experiences and careers in other classrooms,” the statement said.

The CodeLagos programme, currently running in public and private schools in the State, is an initiative of the Lagos State Ministry of Education aimed at educating over one million residents for the future of work – by teaching how to write code and creatively solve problems.

The august visitor would have a lunch discussion with members of the Lagos business community, where she would deliver brief opening remarks which would bring the business community together.

She would round off her visit with a reception for Arts and Culture Friends of Canada.

The reception would see her meet with individuals who have made and continued to make exceptional efforts in promoting and enhancing the Canada-Nigeria relationship, adding that it would provide an opportunity to celebrate the vitality of the arts and culture scene in Lagos.