2015 ANNUAL REPORT/ YEAR BOOK Published by The Nigerian Academy of Science 8A Ransome Kuti Road, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos. P.M.B. 1004 University of Lagos Post Office Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel: +234 808 962 2442 Email:
[email protected] Website: www.nas.org.ng © The Nigerian Academy of Science, January 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieved system or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise - without the prior permission of the copyright owner, The Nigeria Academy of Science Message from the President Nigeria entered 2016 with hope, following the changes in the political structure of the country. Hope alone, without a positive change of attitude, usually ends in hopelessness. We are already seeing that unless we address and find solutions to those basic issues of development, unless we move the issue of science and technology from the speeches from the podium of conference halls to the street kiosks of positive action, we will not succeed in using science and technology as the instrument and catalyst for improving the socioeconomic advancement of the citizens of Nigeria. Indeed, the future is likely to be worse off than the past or the present. Professor Oyewale Tomori, FAS President Let us start with the ongoing outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria. It was reported that the outbreak began in August 2015, and had spread to 17 states with an estimated death toll of 62 of 212 suspected cases. Remember we had 20 cases and 8 deaths from Ebola Virus Disease in 2 states.