By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
Nigeria has begun the process of updating its national biotechnology policy as the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) convened a multi-stakeholder review and validation workshop aimed at strengthening the country’s position in the global bioeconomy.
The two-day workshop, taking place from 8 to 9 December 2025 in Abuja, brought together government officials, researchers and industry experts to examine existing frameworks and align the revised policy with current scientific priorities.
Declaring the workshop open on Monday, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kinsley Udeh, said an effective biotechnology policy must be adaptive, forward-looking and capable of responding to rapid scientific developments.
He described the review as “a national call to renew commitment, strengthen coordination and ensure that policy actions translate into tangible socio-economic benefits for Nigerians.”
Dr Udeh urged participants to help strengthen Nigeria’s biotechnology ecosystem by improving research funding, upgrading laboratories and putting in place a trusted regulatory framework that guarantees safety while accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into real-world solutions.
The Director-General of NBRDA, Abdullahi Mustapha, noted that the National Biotechnology Policy, first approved in 2001, needed urgent revision to reflect sweeping advances in genomics, gene editing, synthetic biology, bio-manufacturing and climate-smart technologies shaping the global bioeconomy.
He outlined the tasks before participants, including the review of the zero draft, harmonisation of inputs and validation of the 2025 policy to ensure it supports food security, healthcare innovation, industrial growth, environmental sustainability and bioinformatics capacity.
Also speaking, Dr Shakirat Ajenifujah-Solebo explained the methodology guiding the review process, stressing that Nigeria must integrate emerging biotechnologies into the national policy to strengthen its competitive standing in the global bioeconomy.
The opening day featured goodwill messages and group harmonisation sessions on key implementation areas, ensuring that diverse stakeholder perspectives inform the development of a comprehensive and resilient biotechnology policy capable of driving innovation across the country.
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