We’ll continue to prioritise biosafety, adapt to emerging challenges, NBMA assures
Omeiza Bilal
The National Biosafety Management Agency, NBMA, has organized a training for journalist to report biosafety accurately to the public, promote scientific literacy.
The Director General, NBMA, Dr Agnes Asagbra, made this known during a one-day workshop to enhance journalist capacity in reporting biosafety issues in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture, (USDA).
She emphasized that the training also aimed to foster a network of informed journalists who can contribute to national dialogues on biosafety and biotechnology.
Dr Asagbra added that the Agency will continue to priorities biosafety, adapt to emerging challenges and seize new opportunities in the biotechnology field.
The biosafety is not well known hence the need to educate the public, because it is very easy to pass the wrong message.
Dr Asagbra stressed the importance of educating the public about the benefits of modern biotechnology, including its potential to enhance crop resilience to pests, drought, and salinity, thus contributing to food security.
According to her the workshop becomes imperative following the misinformation surrounding GMOs, noting that myths and misconceptions have clouded public understanding.
She further stressed that the workshop will foster a network on informed journalists who can contribute to the National dialogue on Biosafety and biotechnology.
The US Agricultural Counselor, Mr Christopher Bielecki, stated that the US. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria is proud to partner with the NBMA, to organize these series of trainings with the aim of supporting the country in advancing its agricultural biotechnology and biosafety regulations.
Mr, Bielecki said advancing these agricultural biotechnology and biosafety regulations in Nigeria would help play a critical role in boosting food safety, rural livelihoods, and adaptation to climate change.
He said supporting the workshop is USDA little way of upholding a standard of excellence for communication experts and opinion influencers.
Responding, The Program office, OFAB Nigeria, Mr Abraham Isah, urge journalists to believe in the work of scientists and that Science is all about data and research.
“Evolving technologies such as this, you can’t do without misconceptions because of personal interest and scient who has done such research will be in a better place because of their research findings.
The workshop was aimed at providing in-depth knowledge of NBMA’s role and activities in regulating agricultural modern biotech, enhancing the media’s capacity to communicate complex Biosafety topics to the public, accurately, while promoting scientific literacy and dispelling non-science-based narratives about agricultural biotechnology.
