Nigeria is stepping up efforts to revolutionise its healthcare system by integrating biotechnology, as the Federal Government pledges stronger collaboration with key agencies to drive innovation in medicine, disease prevention, and public health.
Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, discloses this renewed commitment during a sensitisation workshop jointly organised by the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB), Nigeria Chapter.
“In healthcare, biotechnology opens doors to innovative diagnostics, new therapeutics, precision medicine, immunotherapy and preventive measures, especially production of vaccines using DNA recombinant technology,” Salako says.
The Minister explains that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is working closely with NBRDA and other relevant bodies to embed biotechnology across health interventions. This, he says, will help Nigeria tackle longstanding public health challenges and unlock new solutions.
Biotechnology: A path to improved national wellbeing
Dr Salako notes that biotechnology is crucial in fighting endemic diseases, reducing maternal and child mortality, and addressing widespread nutritional deficiencies.
“Biotechnology is also important in addressing the challenges of nutritional deficiencies especially among our children,” he adds.
Describing the workshop as a reflection of unified national ambition, the Minister says it underscores the shared vision of the Ministry, NBRDA, and OFAB to harness cutting-edge science for development.
“Biotechnology is a cornerstone of innovation, offering groundbreaking solutions in healthcare, agriculture and environmental sustainability,” Salako says. “From developing life-saving therapies to enhancing crop resilience, its potential to address global challenges is unparalleled.”
He stresses that biosafety is essential to ensuring the safe application of biotech advances, noting that rigorous safety protocols underpin the sector’s long-term success.
Dispelling myths on GMOs
Confronting public misconceptions around Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), Salako asserts that there is no scientific evidence linking GMOs to cancer or other health issues.
“Claims linking GMOs to cancer or other illnesses must be substantiated by rigorous, peer-reviewed evidence,” he says. “Scientific disclosures cannot be built on internet speculation. Over 2,000 credible studies, including evaluations by the US National Academy of Sciences, have confirmed that GMOs foods are safe as conventional foods, if not safer.”
His remarks aligns with a global scientific consensus that underscores the safety and necessity of biotechnological interventions in food and medicine.
NBRDA leading the biotechnology agenda
Also speaking at the event, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General and CEO of NBRDA, reaffirms the agency’s role in advancing biotechnology since its establishment in 2001.
“Biotechnology forms the backbone of modern medicine and agriculture and has become a multi-billion dollar global industry,” Mustapha says.
He explains that the essence of biotechnology lies in transferring desirable genetic traits from one organism to another—an approach now widely used in vaccine development, agriculture, and therapeutic research.
The sensitisation workshop is focusing on boosting public awareness and building confidence in biotechnology and biosafety. Organisers say it is also strengthening partnerships across the healthcare, agricultural, and environmental sectors to position Nigeria as a hub of biotech innovation in Africa.
As Nigeria embraces new technologies for national development, policymakers and scientists alike are calling for sustained public engagement to ensure that innovations are both impactful and inclusive.
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