The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said that progress made by Nigeria in biotechnology will make significant impact on the economy.
Speaking while inaugurating the National Biotechnology Policy Review Committee on recently in Abuja, the Minister said refined cotton seedlings developed by the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) is highly resistant to attack from worms and has high yielding capacity, adding that this will help in rejuvenating our dying cotton industries.
“Nigerian textile industry used to be the second largest employer of labour in Nigeria and was very important to wealth creation, but was incapacitated by worm disease. With the discovery of high yielding and worm resistant seedlings, there is hope for the resuscitation of our moribund textile firms.”
He stressed that biotechnology is critical to the development of technology and other sectors in the Country, adding that its proper development would increase the Gross Domestic Product of the Country.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Birtus Bako Nabasu, said the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) was established under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to promote biotechnology development in the Country.
