Portugal to support Nigeria in Biotechnology activities – TV360 Nigeria – TV360

The Portuguese Minister of Science and Technology, Manuel Heitor, say his country will offer technical support to Nigeria in key biotechnology activities that will enhance tropical agriculture and food security.

Heitor made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by the Head, Protocol and Communications, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Ifeoma Ndefo on Monday in Abuja.

The minister visited the Director-General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), LucyOgbadu, with a team of experts in different fields of biotechnology from various institutions in Portugal.

In his address, Heitor indicated interest of the Portuguese delegation in partnering with the NABDA on efforts to expand technologies that would enhance tropical agriculture and food security.

The minister,who is also the minister of Education, declared the interest of his country in assisting NABDA scientific officers wishing to acquire Masters and P.HD degrees in Portugal.

He identified areas of NABDAs activities akin to their fields of competencessuch as cancer prevention, stem cell research, Biogas production (converting wastes to generate electricity) and bio-remediation.

Heitor said all of thesewere areas of interest for collaboration as well as knowledge sharing between their institutions and NABDA.

On her part, Director-General, NABDA, commended the minister and his team for their interest to partner with the Agency and to ensure that Nigeria reaps the potential benefit that biotechnology offers.

The NABDA boss highlighted the various projects and activities of the five technical departments of the Agency.

This included the six Centres of Excellence located at frontline universities of the each of the Six Geo-political Zones of the nation (Uni-Jos, ABU Zaria, Uni- Port, UNN, Uni-Ibadan and Uni- Maiduguri).

Others are the NABDAs Bioresources Centres (BioDecs) spread across twenty-five states of the federation.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the agency was established by the Federal Government to implement policy aimed at promoting, coordinating, and setting research and development priority in biotechnology for Nigeria.

NAN.

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Portugal to support Nigeria in Biotechnology activities - TV360 Nigeria - TV360