The Federal Government has unveiled the Nigeria Genomic City, a landmark initiative designed to harness the country’s rich genetic resources to advance DNA research, improve healthcare delivery, strengthen food security and position Nigeria as a leading hub for genomics and biotechnology in Africa. The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.
According to Alausa, the initiative is aimed at transforming Nigeria into a knowledge- and innovation-driven economy by investing in scientific research, precision medicine and biotechnology. He warned that Nigeria’s growing population could become a burden rather than an asset if the country fails to make deliberate investments in science, research and innovation. He described the Nigeria Genomic City as a national project that would benefit future generations through broad collaboration among government agencies, universities, research institutions and the private sector.
The minister disclosed that the University of Abuja will host the Nigeria Genomic City, while agencies such as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) will provide technological and innovation support. He also revealed that the Federal Government is finalising plans to establish a National Research and Innovation Development Fund, expected to mobilise nearly 500 million dollars annually to finance scientific research and innovation across the country.
Presenting the project’s technical framework, Prof. Mayowa Ojo Owolabi, Pioneer Director of the Centre for Genomic and Precision Medicine at the University of Ibadan, said the initiative would create a sustainable national platform for genomic, biological and health data. He explained that it would drive discoveries in disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment, improve crop and livestock production, attract investment, commercialise scientific innovations and strengthen Nigeria’s biotechnology ecosystem while protecting the country’s genomic data and intellectual property.
The Federal Government said the Nigeria Genomic City aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s broader agenda of diversifying the economy through science, technology and innovation. Officials expressed confidence that the initiative would reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported medical technologies, expand precision medicine, create high-value jobs and establish the country as a global player in genomic research and healthcare innovation.
Post a Comment