The University of Florida Cancer Centre, USA, has signified its interest in collaborating with the University of Ilorin on prostate cancer research. Towards this end, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON) and his management team, have been invited to the American university for collaboration talks and signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions.

The Director, University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Cancer Health Disparities, Prof. (Mrs.) Folakemi Odedina, disclosed this penultimate Friday (March 11, 2016) when she visited the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ambali, in his office.

Prof. Odedina, who expressed her delight in visiting the University of Ilorin, commended the pool of talented researchers in the University. She disclosed that the University of Florida would want to relate with the University of Ilorin as a sister University with resolve to have a team of researchers from both institutions working on prostate cancer.

Prof. Odedina, whose research programme focuses on the predictors of health disparities and cost-effective, community-based behavioral interventions to improve the health of Black men, also hinted that an international conference on prostate cancer is being planned to be hosted by the University of Ilorin. While welcoming the Florida University don to his office, the Vice-Chancellor thanked her for making the University of Ilorin her first port of call and assured her that the University would support the proposed conference planned for the year 2018.

Prof. Ambali told the visiting Professor that the University has recently completed a Central Research Laboratory, adding that the University boasts of talented individuals and resources that would be made available for the research collaboration with the Florida University. The Vice-Chancellor said, "We often think of cancer as a foreign disease but it is now with us. It is a blessing to have someone looking into its treatment and prevention in our midst".

Prof. Odedina was accompanied on the courtesy visit by some staff of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, including the Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Prof. O. T. Adedoyin; the Ag. Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Prof. E. A. Afolayan; Prof. S. A. Kuranga, the Sub-Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Dr. A. A. Popoola; and Dr. K. A. Adeniyi.

The others were the Ag. Dean of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prof. Abdulkarim Agunu; the Director, Centre for International Education, Prof. M. O. Ibrahim; and the Assistant Director, Centre for International Education, Dr. A. A. Abiodun. The Vice-Chancellor was joined by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. N. Y. S. Ijaiya; the University Librarian, Dr. Joseph Omoniyi; the Deputy Bursar, Mr. O. Dere; the Principal Assistant Registrars in the Vice-Chancellor's Office, Mr. A. Sayuti, and Mr. K. K. Babamale as well as the Protocol Officer; Mr. S. O. Agboola.