The 10th Annual International Conference and Exhibition for the Society for the Conservation of Phytofuel and Allied Sciences (SCOPAS) was held at the Faculty of Agricultural Science, Federal University of Abuja from 8th-11th November 2021 with the theme: Sustainable Phyto-economy in Covid-19 Era: Panacea to Global Economic Growth and Development. While welcoming participants at during the opening session, the National President, SCOPAS, Professor Moshood Adewale Belewu remarked that achieving green and low carbon development is realizable only by establishing an economic system that will be self-sustainable. SCOPAS was established in 2013 to represent the interest of Phytofuel Scientists, farmers and allied science professionals in both the public and private sectors.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, ‘Sustainable Phyto-economy in Covid-19 Era: Panacea to Global Economic Growth and Development,’ the then Executive Secretary, TETFund, Professor Elias Bogoro called for diversification of the economy considering the available resources in the Country. He said research and innovation are key elements that could transform any society from under development to development and it is more expedient to carryout scientific research now than ever before. Prof Elias added that the integration of Biotechnology tools has the potential to revolutionize Africa’s Green Energy pursuit while saying that TETFund will ever be ready to fund research that’s targeted at brightening up the hope Nigeria
Similarly, the Director General/CEO, National Biotechnology Development Agency, (NABDA), Professor Abdullahi Mustapha said that while African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda etc do have some bio-economy development activities based on various crops and oil plants, there is no evidence of any significant or positive impact on the economy but the science of genetic modification is central to achieving bioeconomy. Professor Mustapha while making his presentation titled: ‘Biodiversity Conservation and Management for a Sustainable Phytofuel Bioeconomy in Nigeria,’ said that biotechnology is one of the tools that can be used to conserve biodiversity, which can in turn help in mitigating climate change effects and minimize losses. He defined bioeconomy as an activity involving the use of modern biotechnology and biomass in the production of goods, services and energy. Already, an increasing number of countries, about 50, proposed reinforcing and strengthening their economies with bio-based products, he stated. They DG/CEO, NABDA, was represented at the conference by the Deputy Director, NABDA, Dr Rose Gidado.
Other participants in the conference included: former Governor of Adamawa State, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd),who was the Chairman of the occasion; the Chairman of FCT Council of Traditional Rulers and Onah of Abaji, HRM Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, the Royal Father of the Day; Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Elias Bogoro; Vice Chancellor University of Abuja, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na´Allah; DG/CEO Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Ibrahim Hussaini Doko; DG/CEO, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Professor Eli Jiddere Bala; Executive Director, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr. Olufemi Oladunni and a Dean and Senior Lecturer at the Baze University, Prof. Taofeek Sumonu. Total number of participants at the conference was 300 including student participants.