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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO) of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, has affirmed the agency’s partnership with national and international organizations to successfully commercialize Bt. Cotton, Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea, and insect-resistant.
Others, he said, include drought-tolerant TELA Maize, all aimed at improving crop yields and reducing pesticide use.
Mustapha, who stated this during the opening ceremony and official declaration of Bioresources Development Conference 2026 (BDC26) at the Conference Hall of Bioresources Development Center, Odi in Bayelsa state, said the theme of the conference “Sustainable Biotechnology: Harnessing Bioresources for Innovation, Food Security, and National Development,” was apt and timely, pointed out that it aligns with the development agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and calls for a transition from fragmented initiatives to integrated systems, from isolated research efforts to scalable innovations, and from untapped potential to national impact.
He seized the opportunity to also disclose that NBRDA is collaborating with pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria and United States-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms to domesticate biopharmaceutical technologies in Nigeria, particularly for the local production of HIV antiretroviral medicines and other essential drugs.
According to him, in healthcare biotechnology, the agency developed COVID-19 diagnostic kits and supported research into repurposed drugs for Lassa fever, addressing critical health challenges.
“NBRDA has also intensified pharmaceutical biotechnology research focused on the local production of essential drugs and vaccines. This collaboration seeks to address the healthcare challenges arising from the withdrawal of international support for HIV treatment, while reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines.
In his welcome address, the Center Coordinator and LOC Chairman Bioresources Development Center (BIODEC) Odi, Dr. Timipanipiri ThankGod Wood, said that, over the years, despite funding limitations, BIODEC Odi has made remarkable contributions by collecting over 202 plant Bioresources and 77 animal Bioresources.
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According to Dr. Wood, the center has successfully domesticated more than 13 bioenterprises, including: mushroom production, Grasscuttter farming, Rabbitry, Albino rat, snake breeding, Black Soldier fly larvae, poultry, snailery, aquaculture, micropropagation Bioprocessing.
Others, he said, include outdoor crop production (Tela Maize By Cowpea, pepper, pumpkin, cucumber, watermelon, groundnut, sugarcane, okra, cocoyam, sweet potato, rice, cassava, plantain, banana, pineapple, cocoa plantation, bush mango)
“The center has trained thousands of youths, women, and vulnerable groups across the Niger Delta. It has contributed to reducing youth restiveness through empowerment programs, established ourselves as a research support hub for universities and institutions.
“The Niger Delta is not poor, it is rich beyond measure, rich in biodiversity, rich in fertile soil, rich in aquatic ecosystems, rich in microbial and fungal resources that science is only beginning to understand. What we lack is not resources but system, structure, and strategic investment.
Giving the summary of the lecture, the keynote speaker, Prof. Dimie Ogoina, who is also the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, said he advanced the importance of Biotechnology in advancing medical research for health and national security in Nigeria.
