For a very long time, the food situation on the African continent is not only described as pathetic but unnecessary with governments formulating policies and programs year in and year out to address the situation to no avail.
Lately, it has been discovered that the slogan that no child should go to bed hungry only remained a mirage as it kept eluding African countries.
It is in view of this sorrowful situation that the African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF) has been making frantic efforts to make African countries’ food sufficient through the introduction of agricultural technologies with the purpose of increasing yield and producing nutritious food.
The AATF through one its platforms, the Open Forum on Agriculture Biotechnology (OFAB) created a forum for awareness on agriculture biotechnology. Many Africans have used the platform to gain recognition globally through their works at the Forum.
Many African scientists have amplified their voices through OFAB thereby bringing the good news about biotechnology to the doorsteps of Africans.
Dr Rose Gidado, the pioneer Coordinator of OFAB Nigeria Chapter is among the Africans that have their names written on gold in the area of leading the advocacy for adoption of agriculture biotechnology in Africa.
The Adamawa state born scientist found her way to limelight when she began the push for a biosafety Act through advocacy and training of parliamentarians in Nigeria on the need for the country to have a biosafety Act.
Nigeria is considered the father of Africa, hence when it gets it right, Africa will follow suit. In west Africa, Nigeria leads in the area of agriculture, so a biosafety Act became necessary to guide the country in planned revolution of agriculture through biotechnology.
“Through the OFAB Nigeria, I was able to lead the passage of Biosafety bill at the National Assembly, we created a lot of awareness, organized a lot of sensitization seminars for the parliamentarians which led to the successful passage of the Biosafety bill and the subsequent signing into law by the then President Goodluck Jonathan.
“This gave rise to an institutional framework for biosafety which now led to the creation of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). We also managed the take-off of the agency and the setting up of the structures”, Dr Gidado said in an exclusive interview with Nigerian Tribune.
The NBMA has the mandate to regulate the deployment of biotechnology in Nigeria. Without biosafety regulation, it is impossible for a country to adopt biotechnology, hence Nigeria took a very vital step in getting the agency running.
Currently, with the approval of NBMA, Nigeria has been able to commercially release three Genetically Modified crops; BT Cotton, BT Cowpea and TELA maize. This is a milestone that many countries are currently understudying from Nigeria.
Dr Gidado said through the collaboration with AAFT and OFAB Nigeria Chapter which she led advocacy for the adoption of biotechnology which has had a great impact in Nigeria and Africa in recent times.
She said it is a thing of pride and joy to be instrumental to a campaign that created awareness and sensitized Nigerians and Africans on the importance of adopting technology to advance food production and improve livelihood.
“My collaboration with the AATF on OFAB especially my position as the Coordinator of OFAB Nigeria chapter has really empowered me positively. To lead a platform that advocates for agriculture biotechnology enabled me to make very meaningful impact on the agricultural sector in Nigeria and Africa.
“We created a lot of awareness on biotechnology, we launched clubs in secondary schools across the country, we launched Catch Them Young for the young people. These campaigns helped in boosting the awareness of Nigerians on biotechnology. Through the OFAB Nigeria, I was able to oversee the training of farmers, policy makers and journalists on biotechnology.
“The AATF support enabled me to build my capacity and expertise by allowing me to effectively coordinate OFAB Nigeria and contribute to policy discussions”, she noted.
At a time when there was a misconception and misinformation about biotechnology, the OFAB worked round the clock, from media houses to media houses, from workshops to seminars to clear the doubts of Nigerians on this technology.
It was not an easy task for the forum because the anti-technology and mischief makers took advantage of the ignorance of the populace to propagate false information using religion and health as their weapon.
But the OFAB through the support of the AATF embarked on a massive campaign on traditional and religious leaders to address the falsehood. Health workers were also included to educate Nigerians on the health benefits of Genetically Modified foods.
“At least, I have been able to raise awareness on the benefits and potentials of agriculture biotechnology, addressing misconception and promoting informed decision making among stakeholders and raising the profile of agriculture biotechnology through those advocacy and awareness that I spearhead.
Through my work with OFAB, I have contributed to the development and adoption of agriculture biotechnology in Nigeria and Africa, enhancing food security, improving livelihood and promoting sustainable agriculture”, Dr Rose said.
In the past and till now, farmers are seen as poor people, this is largely because they invest money and time farming but getting low yield, they end up selling their products and have little or nothing to eat. Their livelihood was deteriorating while they fed others from their farms.
Biotechnology made farming very lucrative and profitable. Farmers started making more profit from farming as the cost of farming reduced as a result of reduced use of chemicals on the farm. This improved their livelihoods, farmers now send their children to schools and pay their bills.
Currently as a result of the exposure she gained while working with the AATF, Dr Gidado was promoted to the post of Director at the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA).
“AATF has actually had a profound impact on my work, enabling me to drive positive change in Africa’s and Nigeria’s agriculture landscape. Through my work, I got promoted to a full Director at the NABRDA as a result of the work and exposure I got as the Coordinator of OFAB Nigeria “, Dr Gidado added.
In Africa, scientists, farmers and policymakers are reaching the peak of their career through their contact with the AATF. The impact of the AATF in Africa’s agricultural landscape is indelible hence the need for African governments to support them has become necessary.
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