By Benjamin Adejo, ABUJA
Thursday, February 29, 2024
The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) on Tuesday in Abuja, concluded a two-day training workshop for Journalists on genome editing science communication.
Facilitated by the Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation (CoE-STI), AUDA-NEPAD, the workshop brought together media participants from across Nigeria.
Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director General of the NABDA, said the training was to equip the science communicators with the knowledge and insight required to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the public.
He expressed optimism that it would also provide the trainees with the tools to translate complex concepts into engaging narratives.
He hinted that the agency worked diligently with the AUDA- NEPAD CoE-STI to promote the continent agenda of genome editing communication and advocacy initiative, after recognising the immense promise that the technology holds for addressing complex challenges across various sectors, including agriculture.
“Over the past years, we engaged stakeholders and experts to ensure effective communication and promotion of genome editing as a tool for national development, ” he said.
Mustapha elaborated that this included workshops aimed at strengthening institutional capacities in genome editing such as the inclusion of genome editing into tertiary education curriculum, encouraging the application of genome editing in demand driven researches as well as drafting and validation of the national genome editing communication and advocacy strategy and action plan.
He emphasised the crucial role media practitioners needed to play in the initiative, urging them to communicate the potential and breakthrough of the technology in a clear, accurate and accessible manner to the public.
The NABDA Boss hinted that the modules for communication were developed by experts across Africa including Nigeria, to harmonise accurate information and present the position of the continent on the application of genome editing and other modern technologies, as a fulcrum to attain the “Africa we want” in support of the Agenda 2063.
He said the product development selected for the training was strategic in further consolidating and communicating the Nigerian ideal for advancing technology for food security and socio-economic development.
Dr Agnes Asagbra, Director General of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), noted that responsible and ethical application of the technology was important.
She disclosed that the NBMA had introduced comprehensive guidelines for it’s regulation in Nigeria which would ensure the well-being of Nigerians and the environment after safe deployment.
Dr Shakirat Ajenifujah-Solebo, Director, Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics Department of the NABDA and Focal person for the AUDA-NEPAD Genome editing initiative in Nigeria, told Journalists in an interview on the sideline of the workshop , that the training was to enable science communicators have a better understanding of the technology and science behind it.
She stressed that it was pertinent that Nigeria should take advantage of the technology in order to avoid being left behind.
“So, speaking and talking with communicators at this point is to enable us work with them from the beginning so that they would have all information necessary to ensure a smooth passage for the adoption of the echnology.
” Before proper laboratory work begins, we decided that it was pertinent that the public be sensitised about genome editing through communicators, to fastrack general understanding and awareness before the products start coming out, ” she said.
The director mentioned that prolonging the shelf life of tomatoes was one of the projects identified for genome editing.
She said that at the National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike, work was ongoing on cassava.
On affordability of genome edited products, Solebo was positive, while adding that every improvement in technology came with some benefits.
“The technology is different, more efficient and cost-effective. It also involves a shorter period for research unlike other ones that came.
Even conventional ones take a lot of time because they have to do it in the field for so many years.
“But with genome editing, we have between three to four years, and with adequate funding and others, you’ll start seeing products coming out,” Solebo said.
Florence Nazare, Head , Centre of Excellence, AUDA-NEPAD, speaking in an interview after her closing remarks, said the training was to ensure effective communication advocacy on emerging technologies which included genome editing as one of biotech tools with promising benefits for Africa.
“The main idea is that we want to enhance the uptake of genome editing to optimise agriculture, and for that we are not just talking about increasing productivity or yield.
“We are talking of both the yields and also the supply chains, because if you look at the African Union, we are pushing for implementation of Agenda 2063, where the socio-economic transformation of African countries is a top priority through industrialization.
“How do you industrialize. We intend to be science led, we have to innovate for science and adapt technology through science.
“So, it’s a driver and biotechnology being so important because it gives us that nitch to ensure that we can propel productive sectors of agriculture, health among others.
” But we focus on agriculture because that’s the mainstay of many African countries.
” So, with that, if we enhance the productivity, the quality of the crops that for instance, have longer shelf life, it means also that it would help the supply chain reach the market because there would be less post-harvest losses and more crops would be pushed into the market, ” Nazare said.
She pointed out that for African countries to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area, they needed to provide a service, a product that they can actually exchange through trade.
“So, this is one of the efforts to ensure that we stimulate the productive sectors of the economy in order to enable African countries gain from the Continental Free Trade Area.”
Nazare maintained that for Africa to industrialise also meant enhancing indigenous scientific skills with Africans leading the narrative, the breakthrough of certain products and also to ensure that African nations have products they could also commercialise
Mainstream Nigeria reports that Genome Editing is a rapid way of getting results, whereby scientists re-write the molecular formular/genetic information of living organisms..