Being aware that 8.7 million people in the North East Geo-political zone of Nigeria are food insecure and that 320,000 children are acutely malnourished, as shown by recent statistics from the World Food Programme, the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa, Nigeria Chapter under the auspices of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and the African agricultural Technology Foundation(AATF) has taken steps to stem the tide through provision of adequate information on agricultural biotechnology practices and other emerging technologies which have potentials to address food insecurity. To this end, OFAB Nigeria Chapter held a two-day capacity building programme for selected journalists, farmers and extension workers across the seven North Eastern States.
The training was aimed at creating public awareness about the opportunities and challenges presented by biotechnology development and promote dialogue amongst scientists, the biotechnology industry, policy makers and the public. This is because modern biotechnology can be an effective tool for increasing agricultural productivity and at the same time facilitating economic growth.
The Director General/CEO of National Biotechnology Development Agency, NABDA, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, while speaking on the first day of the training, reiterated on the capability of modern biotechnology to revolutionize agricultural practice while protecting the environment. Biotechnology, he said, is offering the north east a second chance to revive its agriculture. Through the training, the media and extension workers were prepared to be part of this journey as they assist the farmers in working towards having a food secure Nigeria. He told the participants that Nigeria has advanced in the technology adoption being the first country in the world to release Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea, and the second in Africa to release TELA maize that is drought tolerant and insect resistant. The Director General/CEO revealed that modern biotechnology has profited farmers in developed countries and attracted younger generations to farming.
While the Country Coordinator, OFAB Nigeria Chapter, Dr Rose Maxwell Gidado emphasized that the capacity building programme had brought together journalists, farmers and extension agents from the North East to Yola, to the intent that the participants would become GM Ambassadors. This, she added, would bring economic benefits to the North East particularly and Nigeria, in general. Benefits of modern biotechnology according to her include increased crop productivity and farm income gains; biodiversity conservation by saving up to 183 million hectares of land, reducing carbon dioxide equivalent to removing 1.67 million cars off the road for 1 year. Other benefits of the technology are poverty alleviation through the upliftment of farmers. The technology provides a solution to most agricultural, medical and industrial challenges facing the world today.
Also, the Director General/CEO of National Biosafety Management Agency, Dr Rufus Ebegba, called the participants to discountenance all misconceptions being touted against modern biotechnology as it is safe and capable of addressing food insecurity challenges. While the then Regional Director, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Dr. Issoufou Kollo, described the activities of detractors who are against biotechnology adoption as those pulling Nigeria to the stone age and do not want to see Nigeria and Africa attain food security.
The Host State Adamawa, demonstrated the high premium it placed on modern biotechnology concept by not only hosting the Event in the State’s Government house but having the number one citizen in the State to attend the Opening Ceremony. The Executive Governor of Adamawa State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, said biotechnology is giving the North East Zone a second chance to revive the agricultural sector. He described the State as agrarian and known for cotton, soybeans, yams, sorghum, sugar cane, groundnut, rice, cowpea and maize cultivation. Absence of adequate technologies, insecurity among others have eroded their zeal and impeded farming activities in the north east, hence, the dire need for urgent intervention with emerging technology like biotechnology. He was represented by the Deputy Governor of the State, Chief Crowther Seth.
In another development, speaking on ‘Nigeria Media Landscape: Why the Media Must Focus on Development Oriented Issues,’ during the Technical Session on, Godwin Atser of the International Institute of Technology in Agriculture, IITA Ibadan, said biotechnology is a tool that can improve the prosperity of the continent and tasked journalists on professional reportage of the sector.
On his part, the Commissioner of Land and Housing, Jigawa State and former Director of Information Resource Centre, US Embassy Abuja, Sagir Musa Ahmed, who presented on ‘Advanced Internet Search for Global Perspectives News Reports Writing’ noted that biotechnology is the key technology of the 21st century and journalists are to report accurately while making use of the internet in sourcing for information.
While the Communications Officer, AATF, Alex Abutu, who made presentation on: “Communicating About Biotechnology: From Lab to Market”, maintained that the media is in the best position to disseminate the right information to the public in such a way that it would be understood without panic or fear. Biotechnology he said, has solved many problems cutting across health, food, water etc. but still controversial, Journalists should then check facts before reporting,
The Editor Africasti.com, Bishop Onche Odeh spoke on ‘Why Report on Biotechnology?’ during the training and urged journalists to take advantage of the leadership role Nigeria is playing as regards biotechnology and put Nigeria on the map in a positive light. Biotechnology, he said it is relatively new, as such it is the responsibility of the media to balance the narrative.
In another development, the Head of Public Relations Unit, LRCN, Mrs Ngozi Oboh, who made a presentation on- ‘Tips for Writing Impactful Science Based Stories’, called on the journalists to always remember the rule of the thumb of media practice which is to inform, educate and entertain using various platforms which could be traditional or social media. Mrs Oboh told the participants to look out for credible sources when reporting science in order to access authoritative information.
Other political office holders and technocrats in Adamawa State that participated in the programme were: Malam Bashir Ahmed, the Secretary to the State Government; Prof Maxwell M. Gidado, SAN, the Chief of Staff to the Governor; Dr. Edgar Sunday Amos, the Head of Service to Adamawa State Government; Alhaji Umar Daware, the Commissioner for Agriculture; Barrister A.K. Jingi, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; and other 7 Commissioners.
While the Roll call of Resource Persons at the training included: Engr. Frank Satumari, Director, Federal Department of Extension Services, Fed Min of Agriculture & Rural Dev., Abuja; the Country Coordinator, Programme for Biosafety Systems (PBS), Dr Mathew Dore; Mr. Yerima Ubah, Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Dev.; Mr Abdul Hassan, National Agric Seed Council (NASC); Dr Nasiru Ibrahim, Director, Agric Biotech Department.