The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Lar Patricia Manko, has stated that biotechnology serves as an essential instrument for tackling Nigeria’s growing issues with food security.
At a public lecture on agricultural biotechnology organized by Professor Dan-Kishiya, Manko highlighted the critical necessity of leveraging science and innovation to reshape the nation's farming sector.
The event, conducted at the University of Abuja and co-organized with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NBDA), and the Nigerian chapter of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), gathered policy makers, scientists, and learners to discuss how biotechnology can contribute to sustainable farming practices.
"Agriculture in Nigeria encounters significant hurdles. Issues such as food scarcity, climate shifts, pest outbreaks, and soil deterioration endanger the well-being of countless individuals. Nonetheless, these very obstacles present chances for innovation, cooperation, and overhaul," stated Manko.
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She emphasized the University of Abuja's pioneering role in biotechnology and biosafety studies, citing the influential doctoral research conducted by Dr. Abraham Isah, who graduated from the institution.
Dr. Isah’s groundbreaking research on the ecological safety of genetically modified cowpeas—which incorporated proteometabolomics and ecotoxicogenomics—gained international acclaim and was celebrated during the International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR) conference held in St. Louis, United States, in 2023.
"The novel methodology introduced by Dr. Isah offers an essential structure for evaluating the environmental effects of genetically altered plants. This underscores the increasing role of the University of Abuja in shaping international agricultural policies and fostering scientific progress," she observed.
Professor Manko showed appreciation to the university’s collaborators—AATF, NBRDA, and OFAB—for their dedication to progressing biotechnology across Africa.
She motivated the students and staff to actively participate in the lecture, inspiring them to view themselves as vital contributors to Nigeria's agricultural future.
"This assembly isn’t merely for discussions; it’s an urgent call to take action. Let’s dare to envision great things and move resolutely towards nurturing a Nigeria where no household suffers from hunger, where farmers prosper, and where our lands teem with abundance," she concluded.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
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