December 9, 2023
By Sylvester Thompson
The Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation, of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) is promoting the inclusion of genome editing as a course of study in the curriculum of Nigerian universities.
The NEPAD Centre of Excellence in STI, in collaboration with the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA),made submissions at a two-day workshop which ended on December 8, 2023.
The workshop was organised to strengthen institutional capacity in genome editing and biotechnology through strategic alliances with Nigerian Universities and agricultural research institutions.
Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director General of the NADBA, said the workshop marked a pivotal moment in the collective efforts to propel Nigeria’s agricultural sector towards sustainable growth and innovation.
He said genome editing and biotechnology were at the forefront 0f scientific advancements, offering unprecedented opportunities to revolutionalise agriculture.
Mustapha said bringing together the brightest minds from the academia, research institutions and key stakeholders, was an indication that things were being put in place to harness the full potential of genome editing in the agricultural sector.
Prof. Olalekan Akinbo, Supervisor at the Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), explained that genome editing was one of the projects under the Centre.
Akinbo said that despite its huge benefits in the agriculture sector, students knew little or nothing about the technology of genome editing.
He pointed out that having genome editing as a course of study would greatly impact students to have a first-hand scientific knowledge as a course and equip them practically to become gainfully employed in that area of discipline.
The supervisor said when students are taught genome editing as a course in schools, they would be fully equipped and fortified with a certificate to back up their learning and training.
He argued that rather than learning on the job, it was important for students to be trained in order to stimulate their interest to understand how relevant the course is in a smart evolving environment.
Akinbo maintained that such learning and training would help them acquire the skills, before venturing into the job market that would be ready for them.
He said sustaining an important, emerging technology such as genome editing required an enhanced knowledge base.
According to him, many students are not aware of such technology because it is not in the curriculum of Nigerian universities.
“So, we brought these vice chancellors, these deans and heads of departments in agriculture, to discuss on the need to bring the science of genome editing into classrooms.
“This means that universities would have a curriculum that specifies the use of the technology, and it would be offered as one of the courses, which is a conventional way of teaching.
“It is important for them to hear from us; so, that the process can begin which would enable students to become proficient in the science, with certificates to back up their knowledge.’’
He said though universities were under the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), being autonomous, the vice chancellors and others formed the core group with the power to change the curriculum and make recommendations to the NUC.
Akinbo reiterated that the meeting was also to strengthen collaborations between research institutions and universities, while enabling researchers working in research institutions to upgrade their qualifications in order to rise professionally.
“That is the overarching goal–to improve on collaboration within the country; to strengthen capacity within universities and research institutions.
“Also, to align the curriculum for them to have a programme that teaches genome editing as a course in their universities and get the approval process.
“`You can see among the participants is NUC; so that it will be part of accreditation at the universities,’’ he said.
Dr Shakirat Ajenifujah-Solebo, acting Director, Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics Department of the NABDA, and the focal person for the AUDA-NEPAD Genome Editing initiative in Nigeria, told NAN that the technology was innovative and apt.
“The technology is so precise that it can actually speed up the rate at which products can come out from research and teaching.
“The reason why we are bringing this together is because we know that with the system we operate; the knowledge comes from the universities and the applications are done at the research level.
“But as it is now, the research seems to be running faster than the education because some of these things are new but in other climes, the technology is already being practiced and bringing out products.
“So, we really need to catch up quickly and ensure that Nigeria does not miss out of this technology,’’ Solebo said.
She added that the meeting was also to foster collaboration between universities and research institutions, as genome editing was connected to biotechnology.
Solebo said research institutions and universities should leverage on the opportunities, expertise and infrastructures domiciled in them, to complement each other for the betterment of the country.
Prof. Lawal Bilbis, Vice Chancellor, Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, said the meeting was fruitful,as they deliberated on introducing genome editing into the curriculum of universities, among others.
He spoke about the benefits and positive impacts of the technology citing genetically modified beans and cotton as crops with increased yield.
“Bilbis said: “But how can we ensure that this technology is widespread.
“We can only ensure this if the technology is being taught in the Nigerian university system,” he said.
Prof. Julian Osuji, Director, Regional Centre for Biotechnology and Bioresources Research, said that to include genome editing into the curriculum of universities was very possible provided government had the goodwill to make it work
According to him, for the intended results to be achieved, government must be prepared to equip such programmes.
“Government should be ready to provide the equipment because having it done theoretically without practical knowledge would make it redundant, which I am sure that at the end of the day, would not achieve anything.
“But if we have relevant equipment, biotech and sequencing equipment among others, to enable practicality, once that is done, we are going to have a fantastic outcome.
“We have Nigerians who are very intelligent, we are have lecturers that are committed and are willing to do it
“Therefore, the government has to fill the gaps in terms of enabling it with facilities required, and I’m hopeful that government would make this happen, even though reagents required for such machines are very expensive,” Osuji said.(Mainstream.ng)
