Job creation: Minister orders NABDA to deploy Bt-cotton


ABUJA: The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has urged the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) to deploy Bt-cotton into Nigeria to revive the textile industry, which is a big employer of labour.
The Minister gave the charge yesterday, during a courtesy visit to his office by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa, Nigeria Chapter Programming Committee (PC) Members.
He explained that the present administration is interested in cash crops because the government is committed to 'creating jobs and wealth creation, stating, "We can start with Bt-cotton deployment into Nigeria".
He noted that the textile industry is another sector that this administration can rely on for creation of employment, which has been in comatose for long because the machines are old and cannot function and therefore need total overhaul.
His words: "I am happy you are not only focusing on agricultural biotechnology but health as well. Coming up with Ebola kit during Ebola outbreak is highly commendable, each institution should concentrate on
one particular area we can rely on, we are interested in vaccine production, they are important to the country, especially for disease prevention.
Also speaking, the Minister disclosed that the Ministry of Science and Technology would be involved in all aspects of science.
"Nigeria is a great nation with the largest black population. We must play a leading role to diversify our economy and we are convinced that
biotechnology can contribute to our national development", he asserted.
"Science and Technology is unique, but we need to carry people along, we need to operate from ground level, we want to see our young scientists leading. Other nations come to take our resources in Africa to
develop for themselves, why can't we develop them ourselves? Nigeria is unique and vast in resources, we need all Nigerians to help in contributing to building the nation", the Minister lamented.
"We have to start planning our future, our population is increasing day by day, by 2095, it has been estimated that Nigeria's population will be 1 billion, we need to start planning of how to feed our nation, I am happy with what NABDA is doing", he added.
Earlier in her address, the Director-General/CEO, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and OFAB Nigeria Chair, Prof. Lucy Ogbadu said conventional methods have not solved some problems in farming which biotechnology has provided solutions to such as insect and pest infestation, drought and flood among others.
The DG stressed that farmers in Africa are becoming old, the young ones are not going into farming because of labour intensiveness and this calls for biotech intervention combined with mechanized farming.

She pointed out that biotech is in the front burner but there are people working against it and the Minister needs to be put abreast on biotech activities in Nigeria. She also noted that though progress in Africa is scanty, those in it are enjoying it. Burkina Faso farmers have given testimonies on
he benefits.
"Our farmers cannot wait. Nigeria farmers have been putting pressure on us to get them he seeds to avoid them smuggling this seeds from other places," she added.
In his own remarks, the Director-General/CEO, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA),Mr. Rufus Ebegba assured the minister that he would make history in the country if you drive Nigeria's economy by keying into biotechnology.
He explained that the National Biosafety Management Agency was created to protect humans and the environment by ensuring safe adoption of modern biotechnology in the country.

End.

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