Biotechnology Key to Solving Nigeria’s Food, Health and Industrial Challenges — NBRDA DG

The Director General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, has described biotechnology as a vital tool for tackling Nigeria’s challenges in agriculture, healthcare, industry and environmental sustainability.

Prof. Mustapha stated this while declaring open the two-day 2026 Bioresources Development Conference (BDC26) at the Bioresources Development Centre (BIODEC), Odi, Bayelsa State.

He highlighted the Agency’s biotechnology interventions across agriculture, healthcare and renewable energy, noting that the real value of Nigeria’s biological resources depends on sustained research, innovation, investment and collaboration.

The Director General further said that biotechnology must move beyond laboratories into farms, industries, healthcare systems and communities where its benefits can be more widely felt.

In his keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa, Prof. Dimie Ogoina, examined the role of sustainable biotechnology in strengthening national security and health security.

He called for increased investment in biotechnology research, innovation and local manufacturing capacity, adding that Nigeria’s health security gaps present significant opportunities for biotechnology-driven solutions, scientific advancement and economic growth.

In a goodwill message, the King of Odi Kingdom, His Royal Highness Shine Apre, commended NBRDA for its contributions to community development through the Bioresources Development Centre, Odi.

Represented by the Vice Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Odi Kingdom, Chief Lumumba Izonfuo, the monarch acknowledged the Centre’s role in promoting research, capacity development, youth empowerment and bioenterprise initiatives within the community and expressed appreciation to the Director General of NBRDA for his visionary leadership and commitment to strengthening the Centre’s impact.

Chief Izonfuo conveyed the continued support of the Odi Kingdom for the activities of the Agency and pledged sustained cooperation in advancing initiatives that promote sustainable development and improve livelihoods in the region.

He also presented an Award of Exemplary Leadership and Commitment to Community Development to Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha on behalf of the Odi Kingdom.

The Coordinator of BIODEC Odi, Dr. Timipanipiri Wood, said the conference was conceived as a platform for strengthening partnerships, promoting knowledge exchange and advancing biotechnology-driven solutions to national challenges.

He highlighted the achievements of the Centre in bioresources conservation, biotechnology research, youth empowerment and bioentrepreneurship development, stating that it has trained numerous beneficiaries across the Niger Delta and successfully domesticated several biotechnology-based enterprises.

The conference featured plenary sessions, abstract presentations, technical paper sessions, panel discussions, exhibitions, and networking engagements focused on biotechnology, food security, healthcare innovation, bioenterprise development and the future of Nigeria’s bioeconomy.