Dr. Shakirat Ajenifujah-Solebo, a biotechnology expert, says the multi-stakeholder review and validation workshop to update the National Policy on Biotechnology will address consumer concerns about biotechnology products and services. Ajenifujah-Solebo, Chairman of the Secretariat Policy Review Committee on Biotechnology, made the statement on Tuesday at a two-day workshop in Abuja. She is also the Director of the Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics Department at the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA). She explained that the revised policy would directly benefit biotechnology consumers and ensure a robust national framework incorporating contemporary innovations, research, and technology. “The validation workshop will help Nigeria…
Author: Newsdesk
The Federal Government says it is scaling up youth agripreneurship in Nigeria to drive food systems transformation. Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, made the statement on Tuesday at a youth agripreneurs workshop in Abuja. The workshop, themed “Scaling Youth Agripreneurship for Food Systems Transformation,” was organized by the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project. Kyari said young people are leading innovations in the agrifood sector, including precision agriculture, AI-powered farm tools, soilless farming, digital marketplaces, agro-processing, and finance platforms. “Our young people, fueled by ingenuity and determination, are taking the lead in…
The Anambra State Government has earmarked N200 million for the procurement and distribution of endangered Igbo traditional fruit tree seedlings in the 2026 fiscal year. The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Foster Ifejiofor, disclosed this while briefing journalists after a bilateral meeting with the Finance and Appropriation Committee of the Anambra State House of Assembly on the 2026 budget proposal. Ifejiofor said the programme would include the purchase of 60,000 Ukwa (African breadfruit) seedlings at N1,500 per seedling, amounting to N90 million. He added that 40,000 Udala (African star apple) seedlings and 20,000 bitter kola seedlings would be procured at a…
Education experts have emphasized the need for Africa to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) in ways that safeguard and promote its cultural and intellectual identity. They made the call on Tuesday at a two-day regional workshop on Open Educational Resources (OER) Practices in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), held in Abuja. The workshop was organized by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), through the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL). The theme of the event was “Emerging Issues in OER Practices in the Age of AI.”…
The Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) says delayed funding has stalled the public opening of the retired Gen. Theophilus Danjuma Science Museum and Library, earlier scheduled for January. Dr Oladoyin Odubanjo, Executive Secretary of NAS, disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Abuja. Odubanjo said that although the building was inaugurated in January, funding gaps had slowed down the furnishing and operational preparations needed for its full opening. He explained that after the commissioning, the academy continued with finishing touches and furnishing in readiness for the planned January 2026 opening. “We were planning to open after the…
Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Tunde Kehinde, has called for the adoption of biotechnology tools to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen food security in Nigeria. Kehinde made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking with reporters on the sidelines of a two-day workshop and stakeholders’ meeting on the review and validation of the National Biotechnology Policy. Biotechnology tools include scientific techniques such as genetic engineering, molecular markers, tissue culture and bioinformatics, which are used to modify plants, animals and microorganisms to improve food production, nutrition, pest resistance and sustainability. The vice-chancellor said every actor…
A Professor of Haematology, Titi Adeyemo, has affirmed that it is safe for individuals aged 18 to 65 to donate blood three to four times a year. Adeyemo, who is also the Head of the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), stated this in an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Lagos. She explained that the recommended frequency translates to a three-month interval between donations for healthy adults who are not sick, elderly, pregnant or menstruating. Highlighting the health benefits of blood donation, Adeyemo said it helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular…
The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing initiatives that empower women, uplift families and improve the lives of vulnerable groups across the country. The Minister, Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, gave the assurance on Tuesday at the inauguration of the Ene Obi Development Centre (EODC) at the National Assembly Library in Abuja. She described the centre as “a beacon of light, shining brightly in the pursuit of a better future for Nigerian women, girls, families and the less privileged.” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the centre’s focus on training, skills development and support services underscored the…
Dr Shakirat Ajenifujah-Solebo, a Biotechnology expert, says the multi-stakeholder review and validation workshop to update and strengthen the National Policy on Biotechnology will address consumer concerns about biotechnology. Ajenifujah-Solebo, Chairman, Secretariat Policy Review Committee on Biotechnology, said this at a two-day multi-stakeholder review and validation workshop in Abuja on Tuesday. Ajenifujah-Solebo, also Director, Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics Department, National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) said that the revised policy would benefit biotechnology consumers. She said that the validation workshop would also ensure a robust national biotechnology policy with contemporary innovations, research and technology ideas. She said it would equally…
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing inclusive health and social systems in the country. Salako stated this on Tuesday at the Myth Exhibition and Policy Discourse, organised by Kenyeyachukwu Autism Society, in collaboration with National Assembly Library. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that theme of the exhibition is: “Art as a Catalyst for Fostering Inclusion in Nation Building.” The exhibition was in honour of 16-year old boy living with autism and holder of Guinness World Record for the largest art work, Master Kanyeyachukwu Okeke. The…