To equip media practitioners specially those covering the House of Representatives with an up-to-date information on the advantages of Genetically Modified Organism, GMOs in Nigeria, the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, NBRDA, along with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, AATF, along with the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology, OFAB, Nigeria Chapter, yesterday organised a one day sensitisation workshop for journalists in Abuja.
In his welcome address at the occasion, the
Director-General/CEO, National Biotechnology Research & Development Agency, NBRDA, Abdullahi Mustapha expressed happiness over high numbers of attendance informing that the workshop came at a very critical time when the developing and the underdeveloped countries of the world are grappling with compounded challenges of food insecurity, climate change among others.
Director-General of NARDA, Abdullahi Mustapha, who was represented at the workshop by a director in charge of Agricultural Biotech Department in the agency, Rose Gidado further informed that biotechnology is more relevant in Nigeria and the world at large than ever..
According to the agency, Nigeria is among major countries of the world which are presently facing serious global challenges asuring that to counter myriads of problems countries of the world are turning to climate-smart agricultural solutions such as high-yielding, drought-tolerant maize, herbicide tolerant soybeans, bacterial blight-resistant potato, pod borer-resistant ,PBR, cowpea and disease and insect-tolerant cotton — innovations that have the potential to significantly improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across Nigeria.
Among the leading innovations in this field, he explained scientists in Nigeria have harnessed major technology to develop crops like Bt cotton, Bt maize and PBR cowpea, which have since been commercialised disclosing that these innovations are not just scientific milestones but are real-world solutions that transform lives, improve food systems and strengthen farmer resilience.
He, however described information as a powerful currency emphasising that currently, Social media and digital platforms have expanded access to knowledge and created new communities and networks which has benefited many countries in the world, enabling data sharing, learning across borders and more strategic decision-making.
These distortions of truth are dangerous because they lead people to make decisions based on inaccurate or false information in the context of GMOs and biotechnology, this has contributed to public skepticism, regulatory uncertainty and slow adoption of technologies that could improve millions of lives.
The agency also lauded the media forum stating that such is very crucial as its help to provide a platform for evidence-based dialogue, where diverse voices can come together to ask questions, share insights and build mutual understanding around biotechnology and its place in our agricultural future.
As media practitioners, you wield tremendous power; the power to shape public opinion, influence policy and drive societal transformation. Your narratives can spark innovation, build trust in science, foster unity and empower communities. But with this power comes a deep responsibility: the duty to uphold integrity, objectivity and accuracy in everything you publish.
NBRDA boss equally spoke extensively on the reasons for the workshop disclosing that it seeks to build meaningful partnerships between the media and the scientific community. It urges you to engage researchers, consult credible sources and present scientific developments in ways that are both compelling and easy to understand for the public.
He emphasized that the major objectives of the workshop includes to raise awareness about the dangers of misinformation in science and technology adding that the Sensitization will help to create safe spaces for dialogue on contentious issues such as GMOs in food, and the broader challenge of addressing hunger in Nigeria as well to develop effective counter-narratives that can help reduce misinformation in the Nigerian media landscape, particularly around GMOs and their products.
He, therefore, urged media practitioners attending the workshop to fully embrace their role as custodians of truth, champions of objectivity and ambassadors of science.
“Let your reporting be guided by the pursuit of knowledge, the quest for truth and the core values of ethical journalism”, he said.
On his part, the Chairman, House of Representatives Press Corps, Comrade Gboyega Onadiran described as a rare privilege for members of the House Press Corps to gather for the workshop which he attributed to the effort of OFAB, AATF and NBRDA to discuss the intricacies of GMOs.
He explained that the workshop is very essential to acknowledge the divergent views on the issues disclosing that proponents of GMOs argue that these organisms can enhance crop yields, improve nutritional content, and foster sustainable agricultural practices.
The Chairman further informed that some critics of GMOs have raise concerns about the potential risks associated with product as well as that of environmental degradation, health implications, and economic threats to local farmers.
He said, “today we have the opportunity to listen to experts on this very important issue. Our goal is to make informed decisions that prioritize the well-being of Nigerians and theK environment. I encourage our members to be attentive and I look forward to a thoughtful and nuanced discussion on this critical issue”.
