The general director of the National Agency for Research and Development of Biotechnology (NBRDA), Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, has presented a case for the urgent deployment of biotechnology in agriculture to combat Nigeria's growing food insecurity, driven by a rapid growth population and climate -related challenges.
Speaking at a public conference on agricultural biotechnology held at the University of Abuja and organized in collaboration with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and the Open Forum of Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Nigeria, Mustapha, Mustapha emphasized that modern science has the key to protecting the agricultural future of Nigeria.
“In recent years, Nigeria has faced numerous agricultural challenges, from climate change and population pressure to food insecurity and biotic stress.
“Agricultural biotechnology has a viable path forward, offering varieties of resistant crops, greater resistance to pests and diseases, and improve nutritional results while protecting the environment,” Mustapha said.
The event attracted the interested parties of the Academy, the research institutions, the policy circles and the private sector. It served as a call to action to adopt innovative solutions based on science to the food crisis of Nigeria.
Professor Mustapha praised the University of Abuja for his leadership in biotechnology research and praised Ofab and AATF for defending communication and scientific commitment.
Representing the interim vice chancellor, Professor Lar Patricia Manko, dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Professor Dan-Kishiya, highlighted the pioneering work of the University in Biotechnology.
He highlighted the innovative doctoral research of former student Dr. Abraham Isah in the transgenic Caupà of Pod Borer Resistant (PBR), which won global recognition and won a prestigious prize in the Biosafety Research Symposium of the International Society in the United States in 2023.
“Dr. Isah's work is a first global, which links proteometabolomic changes with biodiversity in the Caupà PBR. His research continues to influence global policies and scientific debates about the safety and effectiveness of genetically modified crops,” Dan-Kishiya said.
He described the public conference as a “call from Clarón to Action”, emphasizing the need for collaboration efforts to transform Nigerian agriculture.
“Given food insecurity, pest outbreaks and climate stress, biotechnology can reduce the use of pesticides, increase resilience and guarantee food sufficiency for future generations,” he said.
The event stressed the need for an inclusive dialogue on biotechnology that involves politicians, scientists, industry experts and students. Its objective was to light the youth interest in science and promote innovation that will ensure the agricultural future of Nigeria.
As deliberations were developed, participants were reminded that bets were high, but also the opportunities. With the correct investments in biotechnology and strong political support, Nigeria could pave the way for a safe future, climate resistant and a prosperous future.
“Together, we can take advantage of the power of agricultural biotechnology to cultivate a Nigeria where no family goes hungry, where farmers thrive and where our fields flourish,” added Professor Dan-Kishiya.
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