REPORT ON THE 5-DAY TRAINING WORKSHOP ON “EFFECTIVE MARKETING STRATEGY FOR AGRICULTURAL BASED BIOTECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS” ORGANISED BY THE BIOENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EXTENSION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NABDA), ABUJA IN COLLABORATION WITH OPEN FORUM ON AGRICULTURE BIOTECHNOLOGY (OFAB), NIGERIAN CHAPTER, AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION HELD AT THE NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY CONFERENCE HALL ON 26TH – 30TH OCTOBER, 2015.

OPENING CEREMONY

Master of Event: Mr. Kunle Daramola

S/N	ACTIVTY	PRESENTER	TIME	VENUE
1.	Arrival/Registration	All Participants & Guests	09:30-10:00hrs	NABDA’s Auditorium
2.	Opening prayer: Second Stanza of National Anthem	Master of Event	10:00-10:10hrs
3.	Introduction of Guests & Participants	Introduction of Participants	10:10-10:20hrs
4.	Welcome Address	Acting Director, BED, Suleiman D. Lawan Ph.D	10:20-10:40hrs
5.	Goodwill Message	OFAB Country Coordinator, Mrs. R.S. Gidado	10:40-10:45hrs
6.	Opening Remarks and declaring the Training Workshop open	Director General/CEO, Professor (Mrs.) L. J. Ogbadu	10:45-11:00hrs
7.	Vote of Thanks	Industrial & Extension Services	11:00-11:10hrs
	National Pledge/Group Photograph                      11:10-11:30hrs

 

 

 

OPENING REMARKS/OPENING OF THE TRAINING WORKSHOP

The opening remarks were delivered by the Director General/CEO, Prof. L.J. Ogbadu.

She welcomed everyone to the five-day intensive training program on “Effective Marketing Strategies for Agricultural Biotechnology Based Products” and stated that the recent enactment of the Nigerian Biosafety law calls for the development of various strategies for Nigerians to economically benefit from the accompanied advantages that comes with the law.

She said that it was gratifying to note that the agenda of this training workshop covers a wide range of very interesting lectures relating to the proper market positioning of biotechnology based products in Nigeria, with the aim of achieving national and international competitive status.

The training program was the brain child of collaboration between the Department of Bio-entrepreneurship and Extension Services (BED) and the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB), Nigeria Chapter.

She commended their efforts and stated that it was her earnest desire to see more of such collaborations between Technical departments, Bio-resources Development Centers (BIODECs), Zonal Centers of Excellence, Seventh Center of Excellence (NACGRAB) and even with key stakeholders outside the agency in the not too distant future.

She said that although there are yet to be confirmed commercialization of indigenous agricultural biotechnology based products in Nigeria, it is however not too early to brain storm and receive training on effective marketing strategies for the products, a knowledge which will be of immense value and advantage in the near future.

Nigerian scientists were working assiduously to release certain crops of interest currently in research pipeline. These are crops include cowpea, cassava and sorghum that have defied all conventional efforts at tackling problems of pest infestation, poor nutrient content. In no distant time, Bt cowpea resistant to maruca, Africa Bio-fortified Sorghum laden with vitamin A, Iron and Zinc as well as Cassava plus fortified with vitamin A which are currently undergoing multilocational/adaptation trials, will be available to meet dietary needs of our people.

It has become common place to say, and repeat saying that the benefits of the concept of “science to business” cannot be over emphasized. The increasingly serious situation relating to the world wide decline in the acceptance of some of our traditional agricultural products due to poor yield, low nutritional content, heavy reliance on pesticides poises a great challenge to all agricultural biotechnology stakeholders.

If on the national level agricultural biotechnology development was pursued as a multi-faceted concept, encompassing the economic, social, institutional and physical elements of development, in a wider sense it will be relatively easy to effect the necessary adjustments for a truly effective cooperation on a regional and continental basis. This would be in full consonance with the official position of all leading agricultural biotechnology countries in Africa and the world at large.

She stated that no matter how much work is done on the national level, be it research or development, will never be enough as research in the field of biotechnology as in all fields of science is unending and called on all participants at this training program to take all that they will learn very seriously and fashion out ways to solve the emerging problems that could affect development and marketing of agricultural biotechnology products bearing in mind the activities of the Anti-GM groups.

She declared the five days intensive training program on effective Marketing Strategies for Agricultural Biotechnology Based Products Open and wished all participants a successful training session.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOODWILL MESSAGE: Mrs. Rose S. Maxwell Gidado, Country coordinator, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa, OFAB Nigeria Chapter.

The goodwill message was delivered by the Country coordinator, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa, OFAB Nigeria Chapter, Mrs. Rose S. Maxwell Gidado. She stated that she was happy to be part of the training and it was a right step in the right direction. She brought to note that the critical roles of biotechnology, entrepreneurship and marketing are paramount if Nigeria was to achieve its dream of diversifying her economy with a focus on agriculture. They made up the tripod that supports the bulk of the diversification drive. The agricultural technology would not make the desired impact nor fulfil its enormous potential on the Nigerian state.

It was thoughtful the Bioentrepreneurship and Extension services Department, NABDA, convoked the 5-day workshop with a view of evaluating the roles of marketing in biotechnology and establishing their relationship. OFAB has embraced this noble initiative as a welcome development with open arms and looks forward to more of these initiatives in the coming years. An array of resource persons were carefully drawn internally from relevant fields of agricultural biotechnology, entrepreneurship and marketing. Though biotechnology seems relatively new, marketing and entrepreneurship gave always been closer to the people, resource persons from two important quarters have been brought to address and assess their colleagues in the other arm of the tripod-biotechnology.

Since agricultural biotechnology is in line with OFAB's objectives in enhancement of target capacity, it will continue to support capacity building in this endeavor and stake holder engagement was the fertilizer that abets the growth of any endeavour. She used the opportunity to call on all participants to remain focused and steadfast in the course of the five-day training.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WELCOME ADDRESS: Dr. Suleiman D. Lawan, Acting director of Bioentrepreneurship and Extension Services Department.

The welcome address was delivered by the acting director of Bioentrepreneurship and Extension Services Department, Dr. Suleiman D. Lawan. He stated that the training workshop was geared towards training of selected scientific officers from the agency’s technical departments on the skills for effective marketing of the agricultural-based biotechnology products. The recent accent of the biosafety bill by the immediate past president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has necessitated the need for strategic training on agricultural-based biotechnology products or commodities. As a result of crops of interest (cowpea, cassava and sorghum) currently in research pipeline at various National Agricultural Research Institutes, (NARI), the training therefore focuses on the agricultural-based biotechnology products. He referred to the training as historic since the training of this nature was being held for the first time in the agency after the passage of the Biosafety bill.

OFAB, Nigeria Chapter was appreciated for the acceptance to collaborate with the department on this very important national assignment and for the sponsorship which was made not out of a spirit of charity but a reflection of its recognition of joint responsibility for the development of biotechnology. The presence of the Director General/ CEO of the agency was appreciated and this showed the importance she has attached to the purpose of the training and the serious concern which administration attached to the need for a rapid growth in all fields of biotechnology. The presence of the OFAB Nigeria Chapter Country Coordinator was also appreciated and for her participation.

 He stated the department emerged as a bridge linking the agency to both the national and international communities for the delivery of biotechnology products, and also ensure the acquisition of bio-manufacturing capability and attainment of high level of expertise in all aspects of biotechnology for both value-added and basic components through continuous R&D, the development of biotechnology parks, establishment of linkages, training courses for youth and women and promotion of bio-enterprises through extension activities.

The department amidst of the various challenges has made considerable progress, one of which is the huge gap in required logistics for moving bio-enterprises from one geopolitical zone of the country to another. The need for a dedicated official vehicle for carrying out the assignment of the department cannot be ruled out because reaching major stakeholders required us to be on the road at all times.

The department has sought collaboration with L&Z Intergrated farms Nigeria Limited, Nagari farms and other yoghurt factories with the aim of producing the first starter culture in Nigeria which will save the country millions of naria in import tax and other expenditures related to international trade. The departmental proposal to the National Youth Service Corps management on the introduction of Mushroom farming into the War Against Poverty (WAP) Programme for the corps members. This has been done in collaboration with the Bio-resources Development Center (BIODEC), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria and It is believed that it will have huge multiplier effect on the nation. As part of the initiative that came up during our engagement with the NYSC management at the defence of the mushroom farming proposal is the current discussion with the Energy Commission of Nigeria on the development of an indigenious mini mushroom solar dryer for the corps members that would enhance the training on mushroom farming. The introduction of this solar dryer will reduce the cost of preservation to the barest minimum, therefore making the mushroom farming lucrative.

The Technology promotion Desk of the department and agency, inaugurated this year recently conveyed the special postgraduate training scholarship being anchored by the National Office of Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) to the NABDA’s family for human capacity.

On the international scene, the department of the agency has negotiating for a customized training programme with the theme “Applied Biotechnology for Agricultural and Bio-resources Development Training Programme for Bio-resources Development Centers, (BIODEC)”. The participants will be the coordinators and directors of the nine bioresources development centers of the agency at the prestigious Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI), State of Israel but due to the embargo on sponsorship of international training placed by the present government has stalled process.

The department has sought NAFDAC approval for NABDA Probiotic Yoghurt which comes with cocktails of probiotic organisms that bare important for healthy living and have trained staff from the agency’s BIODEC center, Ogbomoso on the use of vitagoat and soycow facility for the production of Tofu and Soymilk. Students on Industrial training have been trained; Tours for pupils and students on excursion to the agency have been organized. The staffs of the department were also trained on the coupling and utilization of bioreactor system.

Some of the proposals are currently being considered by the officer’s wives association of the armed forces, prisons, customs and federal road safety for the training of their members on bio-enterprises. Two proposals have been submitted to the TETFUND on the cryopreservation of the animal semen and commercial production of yoghurt starter culture respectively and have been prepared in collaboration with agency’s zonal centres of excellence in the univerisites. Collaboration with the Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund (PTDF) on renewable energy development has been initiated.

He stated that the resource persons for the training programme were internally sourced from the department based on their competency. Marketing strategics were been mapped out now in the form of this training since in not distant future, the products will be introduced into the market.

He hoped that the workshop will be a fertile ground for cross-pollination of ideas which will enrich all participants and would be extended to stakeholders outside the agency in the years to come.

 

LECTURES/TECHNICAL SESSIONS

DAY ONE: TECHNICAL SESSIONS
S/N	ACTIVITY	PRESENTER	TIME	VENUE
1.	(i)Introduction to Agricultural Biotechnology(ii)Economic benefits of Agricultural Biotechnology sub-sector	Deborah Anukposi	11.30-12.15hrs	NABDA’s Auditorium
2.	(i)Introduction to GM foods (ii)Nutritional value/content of GM foods	Mr. Henry Kumba	12.15-14.45hrs
3.	(i)Competitive advantage of GM foods over conventional foods (ii)Addressing Public concern about GM foods	Dr. Mustapha Poopola	14.45-15.30hrs
DAY TWO: TECHNICAL SESSIONS
4.	Good products/Elements of a good GM food/product	Mr. Henry Kumba	10.30-11.45hrs
5.	R&D as it concerns GM foods	Dr. Mustapha Poopola	11.45-12.30hrs
6.	An Ideal Bio-enterprise Business Plan	Deborah Anukposi	12:30-14.30hrs
DAY THREE: TECHNICAL SESSIONS
7.	(i)Market Positioning of Agricultural GM products (ii) Features of good Agricultural GM products	Dr. Mustapha Poopola	10.30-12.30hrs
8.	(i)Qualities of a Good Foods Marketer (ii) Marketing plans& Strategies for GM products distribution	Deborah Anukposi	12.30-14.30hrs
9.	Marketing procedures for GM foods & products	Mr. Henry Kumba	14.30-15.15hrs
DAY FOUR: TECHNICAL SESSIONS
10.	Food Products Handling (Farm to Market)	Deborah Anukposi	10.30-11.15hrs
11.	Non-food products handling (Laboratory to Market)	Dr. Mustapha Poopola	11.15-13.00hrs
12.	Basic Marketing training for Scientists	Mr.  Henry Kumba	13.00-14.15hrs
DAY FIVE: TECHNICAL SESSIONS
13.	Recommendations and Conclusion	All the resource persons	10.30-12.15hrs
14.	Way forward/ Programmes/Actions	All the resource persons	12.15-14.00hrs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROSS SECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS DURING THE TRAINING WORKSHOP

 

DG and some Management staff present at the training

 

 

Lectures delivered by Miss Deborah Ankuposi

 

 

 

Lecture delivered by Dr. Mustapha Poopola

 

Lecture delivered by Mr. Henry Kumba

 

 

Question & Answer/ Brainstorming Session

 

 

COMMUNIQUE

The participants at the workshop during a 5 day training program on “Effective Marketing Strategy for Agricultural Biotechnology Based Products”, held at NABDA Conference Hall, NABDA Headquarters Abuja from 26th-30th October, 2015 approve and adapt the following communiqué:

 

Acknowledge:

 

I.          The importance of Agricultural Biotechnology to Nigeria’s economic development.

II.        The commitment of NABDA, OFAB and other stake holders towards the progress and harmonization of research and development activities in Nigeria.

III.       The biotechnology regulatory body is essential to successful and sound policy formulation and implementation for biotechnology and bio-safety in Nigeria.

IV.       The need for the framework of excellence to be developed for biotechnology research and development.

V.        The importance of reinforcing cooperation between biotechnology related agencies to promote collaboration and facilitate partnership between scientists across Africa and the world.

VI.       The need for more frequent workshops, trainings and seminars of this nature for capacity building and enhanced productivity.

VII.     The market success of agricultural biotechnology based product is not dependent on the lab success alone but the need such products meet.

VIII.    The need for increased awareness creation for agricultural biotechnology

 

 

Recommend:

 

I.          Laboratories within the agency should be equipped for smooth research and enable products come alive.

II.        The creation of a marketing sub unit under the Bio-entrepreneurship and extension services department. The function of this unit among others shall be to:

•           Carry out a market research with a view of finding customer needs which agricultural biotechnology can produce products that will meet these needs.

•          

III.       Human resource and development unit under the administrative department. The function of this unit among others shall be to:

•           Determine the training needs of staff of various departments.

•           Facilitate the formation of teams amongst staff based on common areas of interest

•          

IV.       Inter-agency and department collaborations be formed to help aid research. Where they have been formed already, details of such should be made available to interested staff who may want to benefit in the course of their research work.

V.       

 

Hereby agree to:

 

I.          Implement all that we have learnt in the course of this training

II.        Facilitate information and idea exchange amongst ourselves for effective and efficient performance and productivity.

III.       Not to see our departments as islands but one that depends on others to function properly.

IV.       Be available to render service in our various areas of specialization for the overall benefit of the agency.

V.        Be ambassadors of biotechnology.

 

General:

 

I.          Management presence or representation at subsequent workshop or trainings.

II.        Staff to be assigned specific work schedules to which they can be held accountable.

III.       Deputy directors should be assigned portfolios

IV.       All PhD holders to be assigned staff with MSc and BSc qualifications for tutorship and mentorship.