Dr. Rose Gidado, the country coordinator of, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa says Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) technology has been unjustly stigmatized greatly in Nigeria.
Gidado spoke in Abuja when she led a team on a courtesy call on the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Buki Ponle.
She noted with sadness that anti – GMO organizations had even taken her members and partners to court by painting negative pictures on the consumption of GM foods.
According to her, GMO technology will enable Nigeria to attain the much-desired food security as crops will be resistant to pests and insects while far greater yields and profits will be recorded by farmers.
Gidado called for a greater partnership with the media in the enlightenment of the Nigerian masses on the benefits of GM crops.
She mentioned countries including Brazil and India as those who had achieved food security through the adoption of GMO technology in their agriculture.
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Gidado asserted that OFAB viewed NAN as a strategic partner in educating Nigerians on the mass adoption of GMO technology.
“Information is vital to make this technology a success,” she said.
In his speech, the Managing Director of NAN, Ponle said the Agency was willing to partner with organizations especially those in a critical sector like Agriculture.
The Managing Director who was represented by the Editor In Chief, Mr. Silas Nwoha, assured OFAB of NAN’s support in the enlightenment of Nigerians on the need to adopt GMO technology.
People who listed the various news products of NAN said they would be made available to OFAB to enhance its mandate and efforts in Nigeria.
Representatives from the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, the National Agricultural Seed Council of Nigeria, the Sheda Science and Technology Centre, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, and the National Biotechnology Development Agency were on the team.
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