Experts in science, healthcare, research, and policy have called for urgent investment in biotechnology as a critical pathway to achieving food security, healthcare resilience, and sustainable national development in Nigeria. The call was made at the maiden International Conference of the Bioresources Development at Odi, Bayelsa State, which brought together researchers, academics, policymakers, development partners, and government officials from across the country.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Coordinator of the Bioresources Development Centre, Odi, Dr. Timipanipiri Wood, described the institution as a strategic national asset capable of transforming lives through entrepreneurship, research, and innovation. According to him, with adequate support and strategic partnerships, the centre has the capacity to train more than 10,000 entrepreneurs annually while serving as a regional hub for biotechnology innovation, food production, diagnostics, and industrial biotechnology.
“We have the capacity to support research, diagnostics, and industrial biotechnology. This centre is not just a facility; it is a solution. What we require is sustained support, strategic partnerships, and investment that will enable us contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of Bayelsa Medical University, Professor Dimie Ogoina, stressed the need for Nigeria to transition from being a consumer of biomedical products to becoming a producer of innovative health solutions. He expressed concern over the country’s limited vaccine manufacturing capacity, weak technology transfer systems, and inadequate investment in biotechnology research and development.
Professor Ogoina noted that Nigeria’s dependence on imported vaccines and medical products leaves the country vulnerable during disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. “We must deliberately and urgently shift from being consumers to creators of biomedical solutions.
Without adequate investment in research, infrastructure, and legal frameworks, innovation cannot thrive. Regulation is not a barrier to innovation; it is the foundation for safe, trusted, and sustainable innovation,” he said. He further emphasised the importance of strengthening biosafety legislation and regulatory frameworks to enhance investor confidence, attract international collaborations, and guarantee public trust in biotechnology products and services.
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