THE 5TH NATIONAL BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING CONFERENCE
PORT HARCOURT
October 28-30, 2004
The 5th National Biomedical Engineering Conference in Port Harcourt 2004 was organized by the Nigerian Institute for
Biomedical Engineering between 28th and 30th October 2004. The conference held at the University of Port Harcourt,
Nigeria, had its theme as Inter-Disciplinary Cooperation among the Sciences with a number of sub themes.
The overarching objective of the conference was to emphasize inter-disciplinary cooperation among the sciences.
Day One of Port Harcourt 2004 was used for arrival and registration of participants of the conference. At about 7.00pm
the same day, a Presidential Gala night was hosted by the President of the Institute, Dr.E.A. Mazi where he expressed
his zeal to see the Institute move forward. The gala night afforded members of the Institute the opportunity to
interact one-to-one with each other.
Day Two, Friday 29th October 2004 started at about 8.00am with a continuation of arrival and registration of participants.
The official opening ceremony scheduled to be chaired by Prof. N.D. Briggs, the Vice Chancellor of the University of
Port Harcourt, did not commence until about 11.00am. Prof. Briggs was represented by Prof. C. Okoli, the Deputy Vice
Chancellor for Academics of the University of Port Harcourt. However, Prof. Okoli left as the program was just about
starting to attend to urgent University matters. Consequently, Dr. S. C. Iweha, a Consultant Surgeon of the Abia
State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, was appointed interim chairman. Dr. Iweha declared the conference officially open.
Next, the Honorary Fellowships and Memberships of NIBE (HonFNIBE and HonMNIBE) were conferred on
thirteen individuals (10 HonFNIBE and 3 HonMNIBE) who are distinguished by their work in biological,
medical, physical, engineering, environmental or management/social sciences as it relates to health or human and
social well being, or whom the Institute desired to honour for service rendered to the Institute or whose association
therewith is of benefit to the Institute. At the end, the conference broke for lunch.
When the break was over, the plenary session of the conference commenced. The Plenary Session was titled
'Inter-Disciplinary Cooperation among the Sciences' and took four lead papers. These were
"Promoting Biomedical Engineering Research: A case for Artificial Reproductive Technology" by Dr. P. Igboeli,
a Consultant Gynecologist and Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynaecologists; "In vitro
Strategies for the Production of Useful Drugs and Biochemicals from Plants: The Role of Biomedical Engineers" by Dr.
B.C. Ndukwu, the Head of Biotechnology Department, University of Port Harcourt; "Awards and Grants in Biomedical
Engineering" by Dr. E.A. Mazi, the President of NIBE; and "Inter-Organizational Collaborations in Biomedical Engineering
and Biotechnology” by Engr.Dr K.I. Nkuma-Udah, the Executive Director of NIBE. The last plenary session paper marked
the end of day two.
On Day Three, Saturday 30th October 2004, the Technical Sessions were held. The 1st Technical Session,
'The Role of Sciences in Health and Human Development' took four papers: "Enhancement of
BME and other Engineering Disciplines by Scientific Globalization of Engineering Education and Practice" by S.I. Iwuoha;
"Role of Telecommunications in Aviation Safety Co-ordination" by B.A. Adegboye; "Computers in Medical Diagnosis" by D.D.
Eduok et al. and "The Physics of Blood Pressure Measurement" by K.I. Nkuma-Udah.
Similarly, the 2nd Technical Session, 'Case Studies and Reviews' also took four papers:
"Issues in Medical Technology Transfer" by E.A. Mazi et al.; "Microorganisms Involved in the Fermentation of Fluted
Pumpkin Seeds (Telfaria Occidentalis book) for 'Ogiri' Production" by J.I. Owanta; "Cyanide Levels in the
Fermentation of Cassava" by E.O. Aluyor et al. and "Levels of Some Toxic Metals in Some Canned Foods in Nigeria"
by I.O. Oboh et al.
At the end of the Technical Sessions, the conference broke for lunch. When it resumed, the 5th Annual General Meeting
(AGM) of the Institute was held to read and adopt minutes of AGM of 25th October 2003, to receive and adopt the Annual
Report of the Council for the year ended September 2004 and to discuss any other business incidental to the Institute.
The AGM adopted Abuja the Federal Capital of Nigeria as the host of the 6th Annual General Meeting and Biomedical
Engineering Conference which will be held concurrently with the Official Inauguration and 1st African Conference on
Biomedical Engineering and Sciences of the African Union of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences.
The conference came to a close with a sumptuous luncheon chaired by the Executive Director of the Institute,
Engr.Dr K.I. Nkuma-Udah. Participants commenced departure from the conference to their various destinations.
Kenneth Nkuma-Udah, Engr. Dr.
NIBE National Secretary
Email: nibenigeria@yahoo.com
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