Biotechnology key to Nigeria’s sustainable development — NBRDA DG

Director General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, has underscored the critical role of biotechnology in addressing Nigeria’s pressing socioeconomic challenges and driving inclusive national growth.

In a post on his official Facebook page, Mustapha stressed that science is no longer just a tool for understanding the world, but the engine propelling transformation globally, with biotechnology at its core.

“As we confront complex socioeconomic challenges, from food insecurity and poor healthcare to environmental degradation and industrial stagnation, it becomes increasingly clear that the future we envision cannot be achieved without great investment in biotechnology,” he wrote.

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The NBRDA boss highlighted the agency’s commitment to turning research into real-world impact.

“We are not just building laboratories, we are building a future where innovation fuels productivity, where scientific breakthroughs directly impact agriculture, healthcare, industry, the environment, and every strategic sector that underpins our economy,” he stated.

Mustapha further noted that biotechnology is already reshaping agriculture through climate-resilient crops and improved yields, while also revolutionising healthcare with advanced diagnostics and therapies.

He added that it is opening doors to eco-friendly industrial alternatives and bio-based environmental solutions.

“This is not the promise of tomorrow, it is the opportunity of today,” he said, calling on stakeholders and policymakers to treat biotechnology as a necessity rather than an option.

He urged Nigeria and other African nations to harness the sector’s transformative potential to remove barriers to progress, close developmental gaps, and foster sustainable and inclusive growth.

“With biotechnology, we can create a resilient future for Nigeria and Africa at large,” Mustapha concluded.