By Abigael Joshua
The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) took proactive steps to address public concerns and clear up misconceptions surrounding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
The NBMA and AATF organised a sensitisation workshop for Students, Academicians and civil society organisations on the consumption of GMOs in Keffi Nasarawa State on Tuesday.
Mr Bello Bawa Bwari, the Director-General (D-G) of NBMA, said that the issue of GMO and its regulation in Nigeria was very controversial.
“While we have information out there we also have misinformation so we are here to educate the public on GMOs.
Bwari was represented by Mrs Scholastica Bello, the Director of Planning and Statistics, Research Department NBMA.
He said that in doing so, some key stakeholders had been brought together in order to educate them on the truth and where they could get the right source of information on GMOs.
“As you are all aware, President Bola Tinubu is interested in food security and biosafety enhances food security,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the awareness given to the stakeholders had erased any erroneous beliefs they had about GMOs and that they would subsequently pass on the truth about GMOs.
Mrs Hauwa Ahmed, Head of the Department of Biosafety Operations and Enforcement at NBMA, said that the meeting had enlightened some farmers, students, academicians, and civil society groups on biotechnology and biosafety.
“We taught them about biotechnology techniques and biosafety regulations because biotechnology cannot thrive without biosafety.
“We have told them how safe and harmless biotechnology techniques are to humans and the environment.
“We have successfully sensitised biotechnology, microbiology and environmental scientists on how to apply modern biotechnology,” Ahmed said.
Mr Emmanuel Ogienomoh, a GMO farmer in Nasarawa State, said that he grew PT Cowpeas and emphasised that the GMO plants were beneficial, adding that the PT Cowpeas were insect-resistant and gave greater yields. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
