Dr Rufus Ebegba, pioneer Director-General of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), has urged Nigeria to promote the responsible application of biotechnology to boost wealth creation and sustainable development.
Ebegba made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He said modern biotechnology had the potential to transform key sectors of the Nigerian economy, including agriculture, healthcare, industry and environmental management.
“Modern biotechnology can transform agriculture, improve food security, strengthen healthcare delivery, support industrial development, enhance environmental management and create employment opportunities for Nigerians across various sectors,” he said.
Ebegba, however, stressed that maximizing the benefits of biotechnology required strong biosafety governance, effective legislation and competent regulatory institutions.
He also identified risk assessment, continuous monitoring, public participation, research capacity and adequate funding as critical to the safe and effective deployment of biotechnology.
According to him, Nigeria’s Biosafety Management Act and the NBMA provide important frameworks for regulating genetically modified organisms and emerging biotechnology applications.
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He said the regulatory framework was essential to ensuring that biotechnology innovations were developed and deployed responsibly while protecting human health, biodiversity and the environment from potential risks.
Ebegba called for stronger political commitment, increased scientific innovation, and responsible biotechnology practices to drive economic development, strengthen self-reliance, promote environmental sustainability, and improve the quality of life for Nigerians.
SOURCE: NAN
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