The Vice Chancellor, the Turkish Nile University of Nigeria, Professor Osman Nuri Aras has praised the advocacy role of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), in Africa, Nigeria Chapter. The VC disclosed this when he led a delegation from the institution to pay a courtesy visit to the office of the Director General/CEO of NABDA , Professor Abdullahi Mustapha.
He therefore pledged his University’s willingness to collaborate with NABDA, to promote biotechnology awareness in Nigeria. During the visit which took place on Tuesday, 16th February 2021, Professor Nuri Aras charged NABDA to intensify efforts in biotechnology research in order that Nigeria may attain food security and poverty alleviation. Further, the Vice Chancellor and said the institution is available to forge formidable partnership with NABDA in that regards. He said also gave a brief on the success stories of the University since inception, hinting that the institution will readily collaborate with NABDA on the advancement of Biotechnology Research. The interaction with the University was an outcome of OFAB’s Advocacy activities.
On his part, the Dean, Faculty of Science, Nigeria Turkish Nike University, Professor Sani Mohammed who was part of the visiting team said the advocacy efforts of OFAB Nigeria is the reason why he came to know that there is an agency called NABDA and as a result, he had to draw the attention of his Vice Chancellor to it to have a full knowledge of the biotechnology research activities going on in the Agency.
Earlier, while welcoming the Guests, the Director General/CEO, NABDA, Professor Mustapha said the place of education in national development is significant. NABDA, according to him, was created for the promotion, coordination and deployment of cutting-edge biotechnology research and development processes and products for the socio-economic wellbeing of the nation.
Finally, the Country Coordinator, OFAB, Nigeria Chapter, Dr. Rose Gidado who thanked the Nile University team for their visit and willingness to collaborate with NABDA in advancing biotechnology research in the country said that the need to solve problems related to Agriculture using biotechnology tools is now an emergency.