A renowned research Professor at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) and the newly elected President of the Genetics Society of Nigeria (GSN), Professor S.A. Olakojo, acknowledged the doggedness and professionalism with which the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa, Nigeria Chapter carries out it advocacy and communication with stakeholders. He made this acknowledgement in his remarks during the 44th Annual International Conference of the Society held at the Balarabe Tanimu Conference Hall, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, 10th– 14th October 2021. Professor Olakojo is excited about OFAB’s success stories in sensitizing the public over the past ten years. In his words, the Professor said, “OFAB Nigeria should be understudied for understanding of its secret of continuous advocacy for decades”. “They have continued to take the story of biotechnology to the grass root without any slack.”
On his part, the immediate past President, GSN, Professor Emmanuel Kwon-Ndung also expressed his gratitude to OFAB for continuous support towards GSN as a group, and explained that OFAB is playing a very key role in driving Nigeria towards achieving food security. Professor Kwon-Ndong noted with keen interest, the recent approval for environmental release of TELA Maize by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). He expressed optimism that like the PBR Cowpea which has been laudably accepted by farmers all over the country, the triple traits of tolerance to drought, resistance to stem borer and fall army worm built into TELA maize will boost maize production and increase national GDP, when it is finally released for production in no distant time.
Meanwhile, the Country Coordinator, Dr Rose Gidado, in her Lead Paper presentation reiterated the safety and benefits of Genetically Modified Crops. The Coordinator re-assured participants that the adoption of GM Crops by Nigeria will bring the country a lot of fortune by revolutionizing her food production and other related agricultural and industrial sectors
Dr Gidado also concurred to the fact that consumer acceptance of new biotechnology products clearly requires effective communication, stressing that OFAB Nigeria has continued to work tirelessly over the past ten years to tackle the existing myths and skepticism about genetic modification technology using a combinatorial approach. “Our hard work in sensitizing the public about the technology and its products is paying off with the commercialization of two GM crops and more that are in the pipeline” she said.
With the theme ‘Genetics as a solution to environment, Food Security, Health and Sustainable Economic Development in the Post Pandemic Era,’ renowned Geneticists and dignitaries in attendance discussed the ways in which modern technologies can be deployed to alleviate food insecurity challenge in the post COVID-19 Era.
Keynote speaker of the Conference and Vice-Chancellor of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor A.K. Adamu while delivering the keynote speech titled: ‘Building Technology in Genetics: Impact on Economic Development in post COVID19 Era in Nigeria’ said that it is impossible for any nation in the world to achieve food security without integrating innovative technology such as biotechnology in Agriculture.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the host institution, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Kabir Balla applauded the Society for choosing Food Insecurity as one of the major issues to be addressed in the 2021 conference. He was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Administration of University, Professor Ameh.
Other experts at the conference were: The Vice Chancellor, Al-Qalam University, Katsina State and Chairman Board of Trustees, GSN, Prof. Shehu G. Ado; the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu; the Executive Director, Education and Biotechnology, Carlifonia State University, USA, Prof. Ikhide Imumorin; the Executive Director, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Prof. M.F. Ishiyaku; the Director of Research, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Prof. Sani Ibrahim; Head of Department , Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Prof. Mohammed Kabir; Prof. Yakubu Abdulmojeed, Nasarawa State University; Prof. S.D. Abdul, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and a host of others.