The Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN) has called for greater public understanding of biotechnology and the need to ensure the safety of biotechnology products.
Just as they stressed the need of translating research into wealth creation and national development.
The President of the Society, Professor Sylvia Uzochukwu, made the call in Minna during the Society’s 38th International Conference and Annual General Meeting, which focused on advancing safe biotechnology for sustainable wealth creation.
Uzochukwu noted that concerns over genetically modified foods should be addressed through proper safety assessment and public education, noting that the safety of such products is determined individually.
“Because the safety of genetically modified foods is a case-by-case matter. You don’t say, ‘Oh, they’re all safe.’ No. It’s each one that has been examined and found to be safe, then we tell the society, ‘This is safe.’”she noted
She further stated that the Society had continued to organise symposia and public engagements to educate Nigerians on genetically modified foods and explain the basis for their approval.
The Vice-Chancellor of Abdulkadir Kure University, AKUM Minna, Professor Mohammed Aliyu Paiko, disclosed that the university is playing a leading role in developing young biotechnology innovators by introducing the programme at the undergraduate level.
Paiko explained that the decision was driven by the university’s focus on entrepreneurship and its commitment to using knowledge and innovation to achieve sustainable development.
“Because biotechnology is also an emerging technology, we want to catch them young, at bachelor’s degree level, so that we channel their attention, all their energies, to begin to think of how they can, you know, develop technology from a biotechnology perspective, to be able to change the landscape of Nigeria,” he explained.
The Vice-Chancellor urged other universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and research institutions to introduce biotechnology programmes early enough to equip young Nigerians with the skills to develop solutions at the grassroots.
Addressing Journalists, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Professor Dickson Musa Achimugu, revealed the purpose of the conference which according to him, it was designed to promote safe biotechnology and ensure that research contributes directly to economic development.
According to him, “we cannot continue producing research that does not translate into national development,” stressing the need to use biotechnology knowledge to create wealth.
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