The Director General/CEO, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr Rufus Ebegba, on Thursday challenged Nigerian scientists to come out in their numbers to defend the usefulness of modern biotechnology to the growth and development of the country.
Ebegba gave the charge while presenting a keynote speech at the 2nd SouthWest Agroecological Biosafety Awareness workshop at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State.
According to him: “the voices of those against the technology are louder while those of Pro are not much heard. Scientific evidence should guide the facts about GMOs, therefore, it is imperative for scientists to come out of their laboratories and tell Nigerians the inherent benefits of this technology and how it will transform our quest for food self sufficiency.
“The global debate on the environmental and health safety issues surrounding the practice and products of modern biotechnology will continue for a long time, but most importantly, the arguments should be based on scientific evidence not rumours, emotions, sympathy or hearsay,” he added.
Ebegba, who was represented at the workshop by Mr Alex Abutu, stressed that: “Nigeria is not in isolation of the global community in biosafety regulation. The public should trust government position in the regulation of modern biotechnology practice and GMOs.”
He further hinted that the NBMA was established by government as a safety valve that will ensure that the practice of modern biotechnology did not pose any harm to Nigerians or the environment.
“The NBMA is well positioned to effectively manage and ensure safety in the application of modern biotechnology and use of genetically modified organisms in Nigeria, with a view to averting any adverse impacts on human health and the environment,” Dr Ebegba said.
In his remark, the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, said that the workshop was timely and appropriate especially at a time the federal government was diversifying the economy to reposition agriculture as the mainstay.
He reassured the university’s readiness to further support research in molecular and biotechnological applications, maintaining that OAU will no longer play second fiddle in the cutting-edge technology.
and then