Bioinformatics proficiency among African students

Ashraf Akintayo Akintola; Abdullahi Tunde Aborode; Muhammed Taofiq Hamza; Augustine Amakiri; Benjamin Moore; Suliat Abdulai; Oluyinka Ajibola Iyiola; Lateef Adegboyega Sulaimon; Effiong Effiong; Adedeji Ogunyemi; Boluwatife Dosunmu; Abdulkadir Yusif Maigoro; Opeyemi Lawal; Kayode Raheem; Ui Wook Hwang

doi:10.3389/fbinf.2024.1328714

Bioinformatics proficiency among African students

Front Bioinform. 2024 Jun 20:4:1328714. doi: 10.3389/fbinf.2024.1328714. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Ashraf Akintayo Akintola^{1

2}, Abdullahi Tunde Aborode^{2

3}, Muhammed Taofiq Hamza^{2

4}, Augustine Amakiri^{2

5}, Benjamin Moore⁶, Suliat Abdulai^{2

7}, Oluyinka Ajibola Iyiola⁸, Lateef Adegboyega Sulaimon^{2

9}, Effiong Effiong^{2

10}, Adedeji Ogunyemi¹¹, Boluwatife Dosunmu¹², Abdulkadir Yusif Maigoro^{2

13}, Opeyemi Lawal¹⁴, Kayode Raheem^{2

15}, Ui Wook Hwang^{1

16

17}

Affiliations

¹ School of Industrial Technology Advances, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
² NOBLEKINMAT Ltd. Bioinformatics Research Group, Ibadan, Nigeria.
³ Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States.
⁴ Green Climate Fund, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
⁵ ProCogia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁶ European Molecular Biology Laboratory - European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
⁷ Department of Biochemistry, Fountain University, Osogbo, Nigeria.
⁸ Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
⁹ Department of Biochemistry, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
¹⁰ Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria.
¹¹ Center for Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States.
¹² University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States.
¹³ Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
¹⁴ Department of Food Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
¹⁵ Cancer Research Artificial Intelligence (CARESAI), Hobart, Australia.
¹⁶ Department of Biology, Teachers College and Institute for Phylogenomics and Evolution, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
¹⁷ Institute for Korean Herb-Bio Convergence Promotion, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Bioinformatics, the interdisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, and data analysis, plays a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of life sciences. In the African context, where the diversity of biological resources and healthcare challenges is substantial, fostering bioinformatics literacy and proficiency among students is important. This perspective provides an overview of the state of bioinformatics literacy among African students, highlighting the significance, challenges, and potential solutions in addressing this critical educational gap. It proposes various strategies to enhance bioinformatics literacy among African students. These include expanding educational resources, fostering collaboration between institutions, and engaging students in research projects. By addressing the current challenges and implementing comprehensive strategies, African students can harness the power of bioinformatics to contribute to innovative solutions in healthcare, agriculture, and biodiversity conservation, ultimately advancing the continent's scientific capabilities and improving the quality of life for her people. In conclusion, promoting bioinformatics literacy among African students is imperative for the continent's scientific development and advancing frontiers of biological research.

Keywords: Africa; bioinformatics; literacy; students; training.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.