Federal University Lokoja Seeks Strategic Biotechnology Partnership With NBRDA

The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) to advance biotechnology research, innovation, and knowledge transfer aimed at addressing national development challenges.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, made this known during a strategic visit to the NBRDA headquarters in Abuja, where he led a high-level delegation. The team was received by the agency's Director-General, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, alongside members of its top management.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the proposed partnership will establish a formal framework for joint research initiatives, staff and student exchange programmes, capacity building, access to TETFund special interventions, technology transfer, commercialization of research findings, and collaborative efforts to tackle challenges in agriculture, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and national development.

Prof. Ibileye said the visit was intended to formalize a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership between the university and NBRDA to strengthen biotechnology research, innovation, and nation-building efforts.

He noted that both institutions already share an existing relationship, particularly in fisheries and aquaculture, through which some FUL academic staff benefited from NBRDA-sponsored training in Israel on transgenic tilapia production.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed confidence that the partnership would be expanded under the leadership of Prof. Mustapha to cover broader areas of biotechnology, including medical biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, nanobiotechnology, industrial biotechnology, and bioinformatics.

Reflecting on the university's growth since its establishment in 2011, Prof. Ibileye said Federal University Lokoja has expanded significantly over the past 15 years, now serving more than 30,000 students across about 60 academic programmes.

He also disclosed that the university recently secured approval to introduce 14 additional academic programmes, further strengthening its teaching and research capacity.

According to him, several faculties and departments, including Biotechnology, Engineering, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Medicine, Pharmacy, and other science-based disciplines, stand to benefit substantially from closer collaboration with the biotechnology agency.

Prof. Ibileye emphasized that partnerships between universities and specialized research agencies are increasingly essential for translating scientific discoveries into practical solutions that improve livelihoods, drive innovation, and support sustainable national development.

He also reaffirmed the university's commitment to academic excellence, cutting-edge research, innovation, and the adoption of emerging technologies, describing biotechnology as a key driver of sustainable development.

In his response, NBRDA Director-General Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha welcomed the delegation and described the Vice-Chancellor's visit as a clear demonstration of the university's commitment to building a strong partnership.

Prof. Mustapha praised Prof. Ibileye as a visionary university administrator with a deep understanding of the higher education system and its core responsibilities. He added that Federal University Lokoja was fortunate to have a leader who prioritizes research, innovation, and strategic institutional development.