Keffi: 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.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Bello Bawa Bwari, the Director-General of NBMA, noted that the issue of GMOs and their regulation in Nigeria was controversial. Bwari, represented by Mrs. Scholastica Bello, the Director of Planning and Statistics, Research Department NBMA, emphasized the need to educate the public on GMOs amidst widespread misinformation. He highlighted the involvement of key stakeholders to ensure they received accurate information on GMOs, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s interest in food security.
Mrs. Hauwa Ahmed, Head of the Department of Biosafety Operations and Enforcement at NBMA, shared that the meeting enlightened various groups on biotechnology and biosafety. She explained that the workshop covered biotechnology techniques and biosafety regulations, ensuring participants understood the safety and environmental compatibility of biotechnology practices. Ahmed also noted the successful sensitisation of scientists on the application of modern biotechnology.