Connect with us

News

FG backs deployment of STI to improve animal biotechnology

Published

on

Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, has said, that the Federal Government is committed to deploying Science and Technology to advance animal biotechnology in the country.

Onu made the remarks during a National stakeholders Sensitisation and Awareness workshop, on Tuesday, in Abuja.

It was reported that the theme of the workshop is, “Animal Biotechnology Applications and Regulatory perspectives”.

The workshop was organised by the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) in collaboration with other stakeholders.

The minister stated that the Federal Government has apportioned almost half of the nation’s GDP to the science and technology ecosystem.

“This will go a long way to improve agricultural sectors, create job opportunities and improve the economy,” he said.

Onu also called on the participants to come up with policies that will strengthen and advance the Biotechnology sector.

He charged NABDA with the responsibility of finding practical solutions to the problems between animals and farmers in the country which posed as a threat to animal biotechnology.

“This workshop will provide an opportunity for you to discuss important issues affecting animal agriculture in Nigeria and finding practical solutions to them.

“These solutions will not only be beneficial for Nigeria but for Africa and the world at large,” he said.

Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, the Director-General (D-G) of NABDA, had earlier said that the event was informed by the need to see how Nigeria could leverage on innovations in Biotechnology which is known as genome editing.

It was reported that Genome editing (also known as gene editing) is a “method that lets scientists use different technologies to alter the DNA of many organisms, including plants, bacteria, and animals.

It is aimed at improving growth and quality in food and animal production.

The D-G said “the workshop will inform participants about innovations and developments in Biotechnology and speed up adoptions and applications of these technologies, as a country to advance the sector.”

In his keynote address, Mr Sabo Nanono, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural development, emphasised the need for participants to exchange ideas on how the country could adopt innovations in the biotechnology sector.

Nanono who was represented by Mrs Winnie Solarin, the Director of Animal Husbandry, charged participants to brainstorm and come up with ideas that would sustain institutional linkages in the sector.

He urged participants to factor-in the role of healthy plants in animal biotechnology and look at ways private sector investments could be leveraged on.

It was reported that other speakers include, Dr Rufus Ebegba, the D-G National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA); Dr Margaret Karembu from the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) AfriCentre, Kenya.

The rest are Prof. Ikenna Omeje from Delta State University (DELSU) and stakeholders from different parts of the world.

Tolu Aiyegbusi

NEWSVERGE, published by The Verge Communications is an online community of international news portal and social advocates dedicated to bringing you commentaries, features, news reports from a Nigerian-African perspective. A unique organization, founded in the spirit of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, comprising of ordinary people with an overriding commitment to seeking the truth and publishing it without fear or favour. The Verge Communications is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a corporate organization.

Comments
NIGERIA DECIDES

NIGERIA DECIDES

Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
GTB
JoinOurWhatsAppChannel