NOUN Hosts BSN Symposium, VC Peters Praises Biotech’s Impact on Agriculture, Healthcare
He emphasized the transformative impact of biotechnology in agriculture, healthcare, and environmental management and called for stronger collaboration among academia, industry, and government to enhance innovation and competitiveness.
Binye-lum 
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) hosted a one-day symposium organized by the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN), focusing on the theme: “GMOs and Vaccines: Myths, Advances, and Prospects.” The event, held on November 18, 2024, at NOUN’s headquarters in Abuja, celebrated the contributions of BSN’s Board of Trustee Chairman, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe.
Prof. Olufemi Peters, NOUN Vice-Chancellor, commended BSN for its dedication to leveraging biotechnology to address Nigeria's socio-economic challenges. He emphasized the transformative impact of biotechnology in agriculture, healthcare, and environmental management and called for stronger collaboration among academia, industry, and government to enhance innovation and competitiveness.
BSN President, Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu, highlighted biotechnology’s critical role in improving public health and agriculture, urging informed discussions to dispel myths surrounding GMOs and vaccines. She emphasized the potential of these innovations to drive societal progress.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Sylvester Oikeh, TELA MAIZE Project Manager at the Africa Agricultural Technology Foundation, who discussed the rigorous safety and regulatory measures behind TELA MAIZE, a pest-resistant and climate-resilient genetically modified crop designed to combat food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa.
The symposium also featured remarks from Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, represented by Prof. Eric Elias. Kuta underscored biotechnology’s capacity to boost economic growth and tackle environmental challenges, calling for increased research funding and supportive policies.
Prof. Tenebe, the honoree and former NOUN Vice-Chancellor, expressed gratitude for the recognition and advocated for sustained public education on biotechnological innovations. He emphasized their potential to revolutionize agriculture and healthcare in Nigeria.
The event concluded with an award ceremony and resolutions to strengthen public awareness and funding for biotechnology research.
