By Sylvester Thompson
Students of the University of Abuja have expressed confidence in Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) following an intensive interactive session held at Abuja campus on Friday.
The forum, designed to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and public perception, provided a platform for students to engage directly with experts on the safety and benefits of biotechnology.
Two students, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), expressed satisfaction with the transformative power of education and the shift from skepticism to advocacy among the scientific student community.
Afuye Nathaniel, a Master of Science (Msc.) student of botany, said the workshop served as a turning point, moving him from limited knowledge to enlightenment and a readiness to support the technology.
“A technical takeaway was the realisation that GMO crops have the same shelf life as conventional seeds, debunking a common myth that they spoil differently or behave unnaturally,” he said.
Nathaniel highlighted a disconnect between scientific reality and public perception.
He said the general public held a different, often incorrect, mindset compared to the facts presented in the workshop.
Duru Loveth, another MSc. student of Environmental Biology, expressed delight about being converted from a skeptic into an advocate through evidence-based learning.
She said the workshop shifted her stance from a passive observer to a potential active partner, expressing a direct interest in professional collaboration with GMO proponents.
According to her, she became enlightened because specific, critical questions were answered, proving that transparent dialogue is the most effective tool for changing mindsets.
Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, Vice- Chancellor of UniAbuja, remarked that educational institutions and students were critical messengers of a technology-driven agricultural revolution in Nigeria.
He described students as the primary ambassadors who must carry the message of GMO benefits back to their local communities.
Represented by Prof. Dankishiya Salihu, Dean, Faculty of Science, the V-C said achieving food security in Nigeria is impossible through traditional methods.
According to him, modern agricultural technology is the only viable solution.
He said that a key justification for GMOs is that environmental degradation caused by human activities had depleted the soil and climate to the point where traditional seeds could no longer produce sufficient yields.
Fawehinmi said that agricultural technology was framed not just as a temporary fix but as a permanent system required to sustain the nation’s food needs into the future.
Earlier, Dr Jean-Baptiste Tignegre, Regional Representative of African Agricultural Technology Foundation, (AATF), said in spite of the successful release and commercialisation of GM crops misinformation and disinformation surrounding biotechnology –related crops exists.
“Inaccurate narratives, fear-based messaging, and misleading information risk undermining public confidence, scientific progress, and farmer access to beneficial technologies,’’ he said.
Tignegre outlined a strategic commitment to transparency and scientific literacy within the Nigerian academic sector.
He said the session would provide accurate, evidence-based information on the life cycle of GMOs, specifically focusing on how they are regulated, tested for safety, and officially approved within the Nigerian legal framework.
He added that the session was a mission to replace fear and misinformation with a rigorous, science-first approach to agricultural biotechnology.
Dr Liadi Tella, of the Faculty of Agriculture, presented a paper on Myth of Accepting GMOs.
He said that GMOs were the essential solution to Nigeria’s dual crisis of food scarcity and chemical contamination.(NAN)
Edited by Uche Anunne
