Portugal, Nigeria Partner To Enhance Tropical Agriculture, Food Security

The Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Education, Professor Manuel Heitor has indicated the interest of Portuguese government to partner with the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) to expand technologies with a view to enhancing tropical agriculture and food security in Nigeria.

He made this known while leading a team of experts in different fields of biotechnology from various institutions in Portugal to the Director-General of the NABDA, Professor (Mrs) Lucy Ogbadu, at the agency’s Headquarters, Abuja.

In a statement issued and signed by the agency’s Head of Communication and Protocol, Ndefo Ifeoma, Professor Heitor further announced the interest of his country to assist NABDA scientific officers, who were interested in acquiring Master’s and P.HD degrees in Portugal.

Other experts on the entourage of the Portuguese Minister identified areas of NABDA’s activities akin to their fields of competences such as cancer prevention, stem cell research, biogas production (converting wastes to generate electricity) and bioremediation, all of which were areas of interest for collaboration as well as knowledge sharing between their institutions and NABDA.

In his response, the NABDA DG, Professor (Mrs) Ogbadu appreciated Professor Heitor and his team for their interest in NABDA and the willingness to partner with the agency in her efforts to ensure that Nigeria reaps the potential benefit that biotechnology offers.

She then highlighted the various projects and activities of the five technical departments of the agency; the six Centres of excellence located at frontline universities of the each of the six geo-political zones of the nation which include University of Jos, Plateau State, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria in Kaduna State, University of Port-Harcourt, River State, University of Nigeria, Nsuka (UNN), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, as well as University of Maiduguri, Borno State and NABDA’s Bio resources Centres (BioDecs) spread across 25 states of the federation.

Credit: Nigerian Tribune