Professor Lar Patricia Manko, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, has identified biotechnology as a crucial solution to Nigeria’s pressing food security issues.

Represented by Professor Dan-Kishiya during a public lecture on agricultural biotechnology, Manko stressed the importance of leveraging scientific innovation to reshape Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The lecture, held at the University of Abuja, was organized in partnership with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), and the Open Forum on Agricultural 

Biotechnology (OFAB) in Nigeria. The event convened policymakers, academics, and students to examine how biotechnology can drive sustainable agricultural practices.

“Nigerian agriculture is at a crossroads. Challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, pest outbreaks, and soil degradation threaten millions of livelihoods. But within these problems lie opportunities for innovation, cooperation, and meaningful transformation,” Manko stated.

She pointed to the University of Abuja’s strides in biotechnology and biosafety research, citing the exemplary PhD research by Dr. Abraham Isah, a university alumnus.

Dr. Isah’s groundbreaking work on the environmental safety of genetically modified cowpea—utilizing proteometabolomic and ecotoxicogenomic techniques—earned international acclaim and was recognized at the 2023 International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR) symposium in St. Louis, USA.

“Dr. Isah’s research provides a vital model for evaluating the environmental effects of genetically engineered crops. His success reflects the University of Abuja’s growing impact on global scientific research and agricultural policy,” she remarked.

Professor Manko also commended the efforts of AATF, NBRDA, and OFAB in championing biotechnology across Africa.

She encouraged students and faculty to actively participate in such initiatives, urging them to see themselves as agents of change in Nigeria’s agricultural future.

“This event is more than a discussion; it’s a rallying call. Let us envision and work toward a future where no Nigerian family suffers from hunger, where farmers prosper, and our agricultural fields thrive,” she concluded.