Professor of Medical Microbiology/Immunology Delivers AE-FUNAI 6th Inaugural Lecture with Emphasis on Man and Microbes

A Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Prof. Moses Aloh, has delivered the 6th Inaugural Lecture of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, with the theme “Man and Microbes: A Never-Ending War.”

The thought-provoking academic event, which held at the University’s Senate Chamber, attracted a wide range of audience including academics, healthcare professionals, students, and dignitaries from Ebonyi State and beyond.

Declaring the lecture open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Sunday Elom, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Romanus Ejiaga, commended the inaugural lecturer for his scholarly contributions over the years geared towards societal advancement. He noted that inaugural lectures are designed to promote academic excellence and public enlightenment across various fields.

Prof. Elom added that the lecture reaffirmed AE-FUNAI’s commitment to research, teaching, and academic excellence, stressing that it also highlighted the responsibility of the academic community to better understand the microbial world—not only as a source of disease but also as a reservoir of solutions to global health, agricultural, and industrial challenges.

In his lecture, Prof. Aloh, a seasoned medical microbiologist and Dean of the Faculty of Health and Allied Sciences, explored the multifaceted relationship between humans and microorganisms, ranging from pathogenic threats to beneficial microbes essential for human survival.

He traced how microbes have shaped human history through epidemics and pandemics, referencing global health crises such as HIV/AIDS, SARS, Ebola outbreaks, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic. He, however, stressed that microbes are not only human adversaries but also indispensable allies.

“From aiding digestion in the human gut to producing antibiotics, enzymes, and vaccines, microbes play a critical role in medicine, industry, and environmental sustainability,” Prof. Aloh stated.

He emphasized the dual nature of microbes as both foes and friends, calling for greater public understanding of microbiology through increased investment in microbial research, especially in Nigeria, where infectious diseases still pose major public health challenges.

Prof. Aloh further advocated for interdisciplinary collaborations among microbiologists, epidemiologists, environmental scientists, and policymakers to address emerging microbial threats while harnessing microbial resources for national development.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Inaugural/Public Lectures Committee, Prof. Ameh Dennis Akoh, described the lecture theme as “apt and timely,” noting that it illuminated one of the most critical yet misunderstood aspects of science—the relationship between humans and microorganisms.

Prof. Akoh commended Prof. Aloh for delivering a well-researched and engaging presentation that bridged the gap between academic science and real-world impact. He urged universities, research institutions, and policymakers to support continued research into microbiology, particularly in the areas of emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.

The highlight of the event was the decoration of Prof. Moses Aloh as a Distinguished Professor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State.