By Enyeribe Ejiogu
Acting Registrar of the Medical Laboratory Scinence Council of Nigeria, MLSCN, Dr. Donald Ofili, has commended members of the Young Medical Laboratory Scientists Forum, Abuja FCT Chapter, for their forthright decision to align with the solid commitment of the regulatory body to ensure that the knowledge base and skills of licenced medical laboratory science practitioners in the country accord with globally accepted best practices, particularly in the area of biorisk management.
Dr. Ofili gave the commendation in his address to participants at the first-ever Biorisk Management Training held from May 28 to 29, 2025 at the National Biosafety Training Centre, MLSCN House, Durumi, Abuja, with the theme “Equipping Professionals for Biorisk Leadership and Global Health Security.”
The training session was convened with the clear goal of strengthening Nigeria’s health workforce. About 40 professionals participated in the intensive, expert-led sessions of hands-on learning, expert engagement, and strategic dialogue focused on Biosafety and Biosecurity.
The training aimed to equip frontline health professionals with the critical skills and insights needed to manage biological risks, strengthen laboratory systems, and uphold national and global biosafety and biosecurity standards.
The pioneering training was designed to empower frontline health professionals with the critical skills needed to identify, mitigate, and manage biological risks, while aligning with both national health priorities and international biosafety standards.
In his remarks, Ofili noted that central to good laboratory practice is the effective observance and application of high standards in biorisk management. It was for this reason the Council gave enthusiastic approval for the biorisk management training organised under the aegis of the Forum.
While applauding the initiative, Ofili said: “You cannot talk about biosafety without talking about laboratory strengthening, they are intertwined. The MLSCN is fully in support of biorisk programmes and the capacity building of young medical laboratory scientists.”
The top experts from the Nigerian Biological Safety Association (NiBSA) who were resources persons at the two-day training event included: Dr. Kingsley Chinedum Ochei, Senior Advisor in Laboratory Systems & Biorisk Management, with global experience in biosafety policy integration; Dr. Stella Ngozi Udo, Regional expert in laboratory governance and biosafety frameworks, and Mr. Ibiang Livinus, a senior Biorisk Management and Health Systems Specialist, with over 22 years of strategic leadership in public health.
In a chat with Sunday Sun, Chairperson, Young Medical Laboratory Scientists Forum (YMLSF), FCT Branch, Stephanie Omoarebun, who is also the Business Development Manager of Nuella Diagnostic Limited, Abuja, expressed joy that the prime objective of the training was realized: “The major outcome of the YMLSF FCT Biorisk Management Training 2025 was a significant shift in how participants understand and approach safety not just as a technical requirement, but as a mindset. We succeeded in raising a new level of awareness and accountability among young professionals regarding biosafety, biosecurity, and health system resilience. More importantly, the training catalyzed a network of early-career leaders now equipped to champion safer practices in their various institutions.”
Explaining how the training would enhance operational activities of medical laboratory scientists in practical terms, Omoarebun said: “This training translates directly into improved laboratory operations. From implementing standard operating procedures that minimize risks of infection and contamination, to correctly handling infectious agents and chemical hazards, participants are now more capable of safeguarding themselves, their patients, and the public. It also empowers them to identify gaps in their facilities’ biorisk policies and take the lead in closing those gaps. That’s how safety becomes a daily reality from the bench to the broader system.”
In the wake of the horrible experience of the COVID-19 pandemic that caused horrendous loss of lives and economic upheaval in 2020, Marketing Strategist and Perception Management expert, Joseph Ibezim, whose daughter is studying Medical Laboratory Science was contacted to react to the training. He commended the decision of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, to approve and actively support the YMLS Forum, to hold the training to upskill the capacity, capability and competence of medical laboratory scientists licenced and regulated by it. He noted that the training is a “core strategic component of measures to avoid the kind of “accidental” introduction of dangerous pathogens like what many believe may have happened in Wuhan, China, which then led to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In this regard, Omoarebun gave insight on the centrality of the purpose of the training: “Biorisk management refers to the systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with the handling of biological materials. It’s not just about theory, it is about putting procedures in place to prevent accidental exposure, laboratory-acquired infections, and even the unintentional release of pathogens. The global conversation around COVID-19 and biosafety has reinforced just how high the stakes are. So yes, effective biorisk management is a critical layer of prevention in avoiding global health emergencies that may stem from the laboratory.
While young medical laboratory scientists continue to focus on enhancing and deploying their skills to serve Nigerians, they keep at the back of their minds, the unfortunate leadership tussle at the national level of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), which eagerly awaiting the decision of the National Industrial Court, Abuja in respect of the contempt of court suit pending before it.
With carefully measured words, she reaffirmed the neutrality of the young MLS professionals, saying: “As a forum, YMLSF remains non-partisan, and our primary focus is on capacity building and the professional development of young scientists. However, we believe in strong, lawful, and transparent leadership. The integrity of our profession depends on how we manage our institutions not just in the laboratory but also in governance. We hope for a resolution that prioritizes the unity and advancement of the profession, particularly at a time when the role of medical laboratory scientists in public health is more critical than ever.”
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