Nigerian Prof. Nok will speak at the Eagan Civic Center about his discovery and health issues in general!

Professor Andrew Jonathan Nok (MFR), the professor of Biochemistry at ABU, Zaria  who is also the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria visits Minnesota. Professor Andrew a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science,  who emerged the winner of the Nigerian Liquefied and Natural Gas (NLNG) Nigeria Prize for Science.  Professor Andrew  clinged the prestigious science award in 2009 for his seminal work in discovering the gene responsible for the creation of Sialidase (SD), an enzyme which causes sleeping sickness (Trypanosomiasis) titled “Functional Studies on the Trypanosome Sialidase/Trans-sialidase - Prospects for DNA vaccine.” 

“Trypanosomiasis”  popularly known as sleeping sickness in human beings and animals is a disease that is resurgent in Africa.
His research breakthrough is significant in forming the baseline for developing DNA based vaccines against Trypanosoma.

The value of this breakthrough emanates from the 60 million people estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2006, living mainly in rural parts of East, West and Central Africa at the risk of contracting sleeping sickness. 

"As you may well recall Professor Andrew J Nok  is being denied  the vice-chancellorship of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria due to political maneuverings and injustice of the cabal system in Nigeria. After undergoing a grueling selection process and emerging with 81 percent of the votes (his closest rival receiving only 66 percent) out of a pool of eight candidates.However, he is  still being denied the position." said some of his local supporters.

Professor Andrew is currently a visiting professor at Yale University  working on the development  of vaccines against Trypanosoma. He will be taking  few days  of vacation for his visit  to meet both the Nigerian  and African Communities  in Minnesota.

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Professor Andrew Jonathan Nok will speak at the Eagan Civic Arena on this Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 5PM. The event is open to the public.
Eagan Civic Arena is 5 minutes drive from Mall of America, it is located 3870 Pilot Knob Rd, Eagan, MN 55123. Please, be on  time.
For more info., please, contact Philip Moses, President Zumunta, Minnesota Chapter, 651-747-6491
Minnesota Zumunta shall be hosting him to an interactive questions and answer sessions  during his visit.Come and visit with Professor Andrew.

To see Prof. Nok's video about his discovery, please click this link: http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=8nZN6gQ__AI&feature=related