LAUTECH Holds 63rd Inaugural Lecture: Prof. Adeola Ehigie Explores Mitochondrial Power in Cancer Treatment
The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, witnessed a significant academic event on Thursday, March 27, 2025, as it hosted its 63rd inaugural lecture, delivered by Professor Adeola Folasade Ehigie, a renowned scholar in protein science and membrane biochemistry.
Speaking on the topic “The Powerhouse in Reverse Gear: When the Mitochondrial Pore Stays Open” at The Great Hall of the university, Professor Ehigie drew a vivid analogy between a house’s water system and the mitochondria within a cell. She explained that under normal conditions, the mitochondrion—the cell’s powerhouse—carefully controls the flow of energy. However, when the mitochondrial pore remains stuck open, it causes an unregulated loss of energy, leading to cellular stress, damage, and eventual cell death.
Using the simple analogy of a water tank (representing the mitochondrion) with a control valve (the mitochondrial pore), Professor Ehigie likened the scenario to a house being flooded when the valve stays open, symbolizing the harmful effects of uncontrolled energy dissipation within cells.
While uncontrolled cell death might seem disastrous, Professor Ehigie emphasized its potential benefits, particularly in cancer therapy. She elaborated on how deliberately inducing the opening of mitochondrial pores in cancer cells could serve as a strategic method to eliminate them. Interestingly, she pointed out that native medicinal plants could offer powerful tools in orchestrating this process, opening new frontiers in drug development for cancer treatment.
Professor Adeola Ehigie, who holds B.Sc., M.Sc., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Ibadan, is a Fellow of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (FOWSD) and a member of notable professional bodies including the Nigerian Society for Experimental Biology (NISEB), the Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NSBMB), and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).
The Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH, Professor R. O. Rom Kalilu, presided over the lecture, which drew a wide audience comprising academics, researchers, students, and industry professionals, all eager to engage with new insights into mitochondrial function and its implications for human health and disease.
Following the lecture, a professorial thanksgiving and birthday reception was held at Jodeb Ultimate Event Center, Fountain Area, Ogbomoso. The event was chaired by the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Public Orientation, Oyo State, Prince Dotun Oyelade.
The university community and members of the public were invited to be part of this landmark event celebrating scholarship, innovation, and potential breakthroughs in the fight against cancer.
