By Victoria Onyisi
The President, Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN) Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu, over the weekend continued its strategy meetings with federal government agencies, private investors in Nigeria’s agriculture space towards the Society’s hitch free national conference slated for April, 2024 in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
While ramping up these efforts, BSN’s Exco members paid courtesy visits to the Headquarters of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Contec Global Agro Limited (CGAL) and other stakeholders calling for robust collaboration and partnership for the actualization of its mandate geared at boosting food security and nutition.
Speakng at the sideline after touring facilities at CGAL, she acknowledged, saying: “We have seen in this organization a world class tissue lab, bio-solution and organic fertilizer plants.
“As we partner CGAL, we hope that more private investors in Nigeria’s agricultural space will set up biotechnology facilities like these labs that will help advance Nigeria’s food security drive, employment creation and foreign exchange eranings.”
On how the government can attract more private players into agriculture, she said: “The government can support the private sector by providing the basics…good roads, water, security, electricity and education and once these are provided leave the rest to the private sector the country will be on the march to development explosion.”
Also on the coming BSN conference slated for April, 2024 in Maiduguri, Uzochukwu, acknowledged that the North-east is an agrarian zone and so it is expected that stakeholders in that geopolitical zones will come together to dialogue and profer solution to the country’s food insecurity.
“It is also expected that Contec Global and other private investors will presentations to the farmers on how to leverage on what they are doing, using biotechnology and mechanization tools for food security and nutrition for enhanced and better productivity.
The BSN boss reiterated that the Society is ramping up partnership and collaboration deals to exploit research that will help improve farmers’ productivity by generating organic manure so that more farmers can get more food from the space of land.
Speaking on behalf of CGAL, Dr. Praven Kumar, explained that the company has bio-solution labs in different parts of the country. He added that the organic fertilizer are products sourced from soil components in the different geopolitical zones for manufacture of organic fertilizer.
He expressed the company’s readiness to collaborate with BSN to advance the frontier of biotechnology practices to meeting the country’s food security challenges.
In a brief remark, BSN Spokesperson, Mr. Abraham Isah, while acknowledging CGAL for the visit, said BSN is highly honored, adding that the company is a trailblazer in the agro-industrial sector, whose commitment to innovation and sustainable practices aligns seamlessly with the values that the Society has.
Isa, said: “The Biotechnology Society of Nigeria plays a pivotal role in the nation-building process by serving as a catalyst for advancements in biotechnology.
“Our society is dedicated to promoting the responsible use of biotechnology for the greater good of our nation and its citizens. We firmly believe that biotechnology has the potential to address critical challenges in agriculture, healthcare, and the environment, and in doing so, contribute significantly to national development.
“In the realm of agriculture, as exemplified by CONTEC Global Agro Limited, biotechnology holds the promise of enhancing crop yields, improving resistance to pests and diseases, and ensuring food security.”
He said BSN is actively engaged in research, knowledge dissemination, and advocacy to promote the adoption of biotechnological solutions in agriculture, adding: “Our aim is to foster collaboration between the scientific community, industry players, and policymakers to create a robust and sustainable agricultural sector.
The Society recognizes the importance of biotechnology in healthcare, where it plays a crucial role in the development of new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tools.
“By fostering partnerships and advocating for the ethical use of biotechnology in healthcare, we contribute to the well-being of our citizens and the overall improvement of public health.” The PRO, said.