By: Manoah Kikekon
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| GMO tomato used to illustrate the story |
Abuja, Nigeria – At a special sensitization workshop in Abuja, top Nigerian agricultural and health officials presented a unified front, championing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) as a critical tool to strengthen the nation’s food security and not a danger to public health.
The event, organized by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in collaboration with the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), aimed to equip officers from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with a deeper understanding of the science and safety protocols behind biotechnology.
Dr. Rose Gidado, Director of Agricultural Biotechnology at NBRDA, directly addressed public concerns, calling the perception of GMOs as poisonous "misleading and unfounded."
"We cannot give poison to our own people. Many of us, and the professors working in this field, are Nigerians, responsible scientists who are also consumers," Gidado stated. She emphasized Nigeria's adoption of global best practices, highlighting the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) as the dedicated regulator ensuring safety is never compromised.
Experts at the workshop framed biotechnology as an essential response to Nigeria’s pressing challenges. Dr. Angarawai Ignatius of ICRISAT explained that with a rapidly growing population and shrinking farmland, GM crops engineered for pest resistance and drought tolerance are key to sustainable food production.
Representing the Director-General of NBRDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Dr. Oyedele Julius connected the technology directly to national goals, stating that the approved insect-resistant and drought-tolerant maize varieties "align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food security and economic revival."
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reinforced its commitment to consumer safety. Represented by Dr. John Atanda, Director of Food and Drug Services Olubunmi Aribeana assured that every GMO product undergoes rigorous risk assessment for allergenicity, nutrition, and long-term health impacts before approval.
"Every GMO product will follow standard regulatory procedures such as labelling and traceability to reinforce consumer trust," she added.
The workshop concluded with a consensus on the need for continued science communication to overcome misconceptions, positioning biotechnology as a viable, safe, and necessary pathway to a food-secure future for Nigeria.