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The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has identified biotechnology as a key solution to Nigeria’s food insecurity and malnutrition challenges, calling for stronger collaboration between researchers, government agencies and private-sector organisations.
Alausa made the call on Wednesday through the Secretary-General of the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO, Dr Idowu Olagunju, at the fifth International Conference on Biotechnology for Food Security and Human Health in Abuja.
The minister noted that climate change, population growth, emerging diseases and disruptions to food supply chains were placing increasing pressure on agriculture and healthcare, making scientific innovation increasingly important.
He argued that conventional approaches alone could no longer adequately address the growing challenges, describing biotechnology as an important tool for improving food production and human health.
According to him, the technology could help increase agricultural productivity, improve the nutritional value of crops and support the development of medical treatments, including vaccines and gene therapies.
He explained that genetically modified crops could be developed to withstand pests and diseases, while biofortification could improve the nutritional content of staple foods and help reduce nutrient deficiencies among vulnerable populations.
However, Alausa stressed that scientific discoveries would have limited impact unless they were translated into practical, affordable and accessible solutions.
He therefore urged government institutions, research organisations, industries and civil society groups to strengthen partnerships, increase research funding and improve regulatory frameworks to ensure that biotechnology innovations reach the people who need them.
The minister also encouraged participants at the conference to develop practical recommendations that would support industries and improve food security across Nigeria and the wider African continent.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the International Centre for Biotechnology, Nsukka, Emeritus Professor Umezuruike Okpara, called for greater public understanding of genetic modification.
Okpara maintained that biotechnology should be assessed based on its safe and responsible application rather than public concerns about the technology.
He noted that scientific advances could help researchers develop improved seeds with better yields and other desirable characteristics.
The professor also pointed to Nigeria’s existing regulatory framework under the National Biosafety Management Agency, established following the National Biosafety Act of 2015, which provides oversight for modern biotechnology and genetically modified organisms.
He disclosed that six memoranda of understanding had been signed with institutions in Nigeria, South Africa and other parts of Africa to strengthen research collaboration, share expertise and expand access to funding.
According to him, cooperation among universities, research institutions and industries would support joint research, training programmes and resource sharing, helping scientific discoveries deliver wider economic benefits.
The conference, organised by the UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology in partnership with the Postharvest and Agroprocessing Research Centre of the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, began on Wednesday and is scheduled to end on Thursday.
The discussions come as Nigeria continues to face serious food access challenges. An estimated 36.3 million people experienced acute food insecurity during the June-to-August 2026 lean season, according to a September report by the Food and Agriculture Organization.
While biotechnology offers opportunities to improve crop yields, nutritional quality and resistance to pests and diseases, experts note that its impact will also depend on effective regulation, sustained research investment and farmers’ access to appropriate technologies.
Addressing insecurity, high agricultural input costs, inadequate infrastructure and post-harvest losses will also remain important to improving food availability and affordability.
The conference is being held ahead of World Food Day on October 16, with stakeholders expected to explore scientific and collaborative approaches to addressing food insecurity and human health challenges.
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