PRESS RELEASE

NIGERIA, IRISH SIGN PACT ON HIV/AIDS DIAGNOSTIC KITS

As part of the Federal Government’s strategic efforts towards the control, care, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS antibodies, Malaria,Hepatitis B and C, the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has facilitated the signing of a JointVenture Agreement with Messrs Trinity Biotech Plc, Dublin on the establishment of Diagnostic kits for HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Hepatitis B and C in Nigeria.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaete, in his opening remarks at the signing ceremony of the Joint Venture Agreement, said the objective is to develop, manufacture and market diagnostic kits for the detection of HIV/AIDS antibodies, Malaria and Hepatatis B and C at a competitive price.

Speaking further, he noted that, the initiative involves the transfer of technology. The Technical Partner is expected to provide the necessary know-how, scientific and laboratory equipment, as well as train indigenous scientific personnel from relevant MDAs to manufacture the diagnostic kits in Nigeria.

According to the SGF, this initiative resulted from the official visit of President Olusegun Obasnjo to the Republic of Ireland in 2002 during which he inspected the world class facilities of Trinity Biotech Plc. He thanked the Ministries of Science and Technology, Health, Finance and Justice for expediting action towards the kick off of the joint venture.

The DG of NABDA, the coordinating government organ for the initiative, hopes that this venture will put Nigeria on the global map of Biotechnology

The Deputy Project Coordinator of Trinity Biotech; Africa/Middle east, Gerard Gallagher, in his remarks thanked the President for his visionary leadership towards improving health care delivery in Nigeria and publicly admonished the painstaking effort of Mr. Uzo Eneli who went through thick and thin to this logic conclusion.

FG PARTNERS WITH EMCURE: PLANS TO MANIFACTURE ANTIRETROVIRAL PRODUCTS UNDERWAY

		As part of the Federal Government’s strategic efforts to combat the growing prevalence of the HIV/AIDS scourge, the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) is facilitating a collaborative venture with Messrs Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd, India that will foster the manufacturing of antiretroviral products in Nigeria. The Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency, Prof. Bamidele Solomon, disclosed that the venture will develop the technical competence of local entrepreneurs in the manufacturing of world-class and affordable Biogenerics such as interferon and erythropoetin. This initiative will ameliorate the socio-economic condition of HIV/AIDS patients by making varied antiretroviral products and management drugs readily available and affordable. Consequently, it will create a market for local entrepreneurs in the sub-region. Prof. Solomon, further stated that this initiative seeks to address the problems poised by the ever-increasing HIV positive paediatric population in Nigeria, given the fact that Emcure has developed core competence in producing a host of paediatric antiretroviral formulations. The DG NABDA expressed enthusiasm over Emcure’s competence to deliver, given their proven track record and success in the President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Programme of the U.S government. Similarly, the Director General of NABDA recently led a 3-man delegation to Deutsche Sammlung Von Mikroorganism und Zellkulturen, Braunschweig (DSMZ), Germany, to conclude plans for the establishment of a Culture Collecting Centre for Micro-organisms and Cultured Cells in Nigeria. The delegation included the Director of the Department of Environmental Biotechnology, NABDA, Dr. Oby Onyia, and a deputy director in Raw Materials and Development Council (RMDC), Dr. Obasi.
Emcure official in a handshake with the DG, NABDA

Disclosing the strategic importance of the project, Prof Solomon noted that it will help to conserve genetic resources and biodiversity as well as provide the essential underpinning for emerging biotechnologically based projects and industries. According to him, microbial resource centers are essential agents of scientific development. In that, scientists obtain research materials from the centre because such materials have undergone quality control and authentication testing as part of routine procedures for the collection.

As a centre of expertise, strategic research programmes would be an integral part of every collection’s activity. This will make important contribution to knowledge of the morphology, taxonomy, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics of the groups of organisms maintained.

The project is hoped to foster the emergence of biotechnology related industries in Nigeria.

NABDA SOLIDIFIES PLANS FOR THE KICK-OFF OF THE SOUTH WEST ZONAL BIOTECH CENTRE

The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has set machinery into motion to consolidate the establishment of the South-West Zonal Biotechnology Centre (SWZBC) as reflected in the National Biotechnology policy. The Director General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Bamidele Solomon disclosed this during the week in Ibadan at a meeting with the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor and other principal officers of the University of Ibadan Prof. Solomon said the SWZBC is one of the six centres of excellence to be established in the six geo-political zones to enhance biotechnology research and development. According to him, the University of Ibadan was selected to host the SWZBC being the oldest University in the Zone, and for its strategic location that is easily accessible. Prof. Solomon further solicited the co-operation of the University in ensuring the success of the project, saying that it would be a collaborative project that all stakeholders stood to benefit. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Femi Bamiro in his opening remarks pointed out the importance of Biotechnology in National Development and assured NABDA of the institution’s willingness to support the project. Bamiro noted that there was need for networking and collaboration between scientists and researchers; and urged the development of a database on biotechnology scientists. In a tour of the designated spaces for the proposed molecular biology laboratory, the University College Hospital (UCH), the Department of Biochemistry and the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry were inspected. A memorandum of understanding will soon be signed by NABDA and the University of Ibadan.

BIOTECHNOLOGY POISED TO GROW NIGERIA’S ECONOMY

In a bid to diversify Nigeria’s monolithic oil driven economy, the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has embarked on a nationwide champagne aim at sensitizing relevant stakeholders on the enormous potentials of bio-resources in Nigeria.

This strategic campaign is organized in active collaboration with community business organizations (CBO), civil societies and business oriented socio-religious organizations.

Speaking at a one day lecture hosted by the business people’s fellowship at Opebi Lagos Wednesday, the Director General of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof Bamidele Solomon disclose that Biotechnology is poised to facilitate rapid economic growth in Nigeria. He however, noted that this can only be realized if strategic groups in the industry will harness and commercialize these enormous bio-resources

Prof bamidele Solomon highlighted the market profile and profitability of grass cutter rearing, snail farming, mushroom cultivation and fish farming amongst others. He also drew the attention of small and large scale investors to the huge market potential of snail in Nigeria, noting that the demand for it is ever increasing across the six  geopolitical zones attributing its growth to the increasing awareness amongst Nigeria of the nutritional and medicinal value of snails.

Prof Solomon also hinted that strategic plans are underway for Nigeria to harness alternative sources of energy amongst which are bio-ethanol, bio-gas and bio-diesel. These derivatives of the cutting edge technology are already reshaping the pattern of the energy usage in some countries in Europe.
According to him, the agency is set to reverse the present trend wherein Nigeria imports ethanol by ensuring that she provides more than enough for her local needs.

Participants at the one day lecture expressed their enthusiasm at this discovery describing it as timely and very enlightening. Many of them are determined to embrace some of the promising enterprising such as grass cutter farming and snail rearing.