Bayelsa State Partners NBRDA to Drive Economic Growth Through Biotechnology
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed the state’s readiness to collaborate with the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) to harness its agricultural and natural resources for economic development, job creation and improved livelihoods.
The governor stated this recently while receiving the Director General of NBRDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, and his delegation at Government House, Yenagoa.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, Governor Diri commended NBRDA for selecting Bayelsa as the host of its maiden biotechnology conference at the Agency’s Bioresources Development Centre (BIODEC), Odi.
He said the state looked forward to partnering with NBRDA in advancing research, boosting agricultural productivity and supporting pharmaceutical manufacturing to improve healthcare delivery and create employment opportunities for its citizens. According to him, Bayelsa’s abundant natural resources can be transformed into sustainable wealth through knowledge, innovation and technology-driven solutions.
Earlier, Prof. Mustapha described Bayelsa as one of Nigeria’s most strategically positioned states for biotechnology-driven development, given its vast aquatic resources, rich biodiversity, extensive mangrove ecosystems, fertile agricultural land and coastal location.
He explained that modern biotechnology could enhance fish production through advanced breeding techniques, disease diagnostics, genomics and improved hatchery systems, thereby positioning Bayelsa as a leading hub for aquatic biotechnology in Nigeria and the West African region.
Prof. Mustapha also highlighted the potential of agricultural biotechnology in developing improved crop varieties that are disease-resistant, climate-resilient and capable of delivering higher yields, while environmental biotechnology could help address ecological challenges associated with oil exploration through bioremediation technologies that restore degraded ecosystems and promote environmental sustainability.
The NBRDA Director General added that Bayelsa’s rich biodiversity presents opportunities for pharmaceutical biotechnology, natural product research and bioresource commercialisation.
He further stated that NBRDA would continue to leverage its Bioresources Development Centre, Odi, as a hub for research, innovation, technology transfer, entrepreneurship development and capacity building in support of the state’s development aspirations.
