A Medical Microbiology and Microbial Genetics professor, Emmanuel Olufemi Ekundayo, from the Biotechnology department at the Federal Univers...
A Medical Microbiology and Microbial Genetics professor, Emmanuel Olufemi Ekundayo, from the Biotechnology department at the Federal University Lokoja, has stated that funding in biotechnology offers chances for economic variety and long-term growth in Nigeria.
The professor revealed this yesterday during the 34th Inaugural lecture at the University, which took place at its Adankolo-Lokoja campus. The lecture was titled: "Biotechnology: The Science, the Products, and the Business - Utilizing Indigenous Bioresources for National Bioeconomy."
He argued that the nation possesses abundant biological diversity, a rising young population, and a rising need for food and medical services, which can support a thriving biotechnology industry within the country and across most of Africa.
The Don emphasized that local entrepreneurship, with the assistance of incubators, venture capital, and clear regulations, can establish biotechnology as a catalyst for innovation-driven economic development.
He mentioned that the investment in biotechnology goes beyond the commercialization of products, including the generation of economic value, employment opportunities, and entire industries. He emphasized that the biotechnology sector is focused on improving lives, transforming industries, and impacting nations.
Professor Ekundayo emphasized that biotechnology entrepreneurship has significant potential to reshape economies and societies by tackling critical global issues in health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.
Biotechnology as a commercial endeavor serves as the link between scientific findings and their effect on society. The continent has the capacity to develop bio-based industries that generate employment and decrease reliance on imports.
Cultivating a thriving biotechnology industry in Africa necessitates targeted funding for skill development, favorable regulatory frameworks, exchange of technological expertise, and collaboration among educational institutions, public authorities, and the private sector.
Major prospects include biopharmaceutical production, agricultural biotechnology aimed at climate-resilient farming, and bio-based businesses that transform regional biomass into fuels, fertilizers, and advanced chemicals.
"Ultimately, biotechnology entrepreneurship goes beyond just launching companies; it involves converting scientific research into innovations that connect discoveries with the needs of society," stated Don.
He mentioned Africa, with Nigeria specifically, needs to now meet the challenge of integrating biotechnology into national development plans, as the global North has established it as a key component of its knowledge-based economy.
He stated, "For Africa and Nigeria specifically, biotechnology presents a route to diversify economies, reinforce healthcare systems, boost agricultural output, and participate in the global knowledge-based economy."
To accomplish this, we need to dedicate ourselves to intentional funding, supportive regulations, and forward-thinking leadership that can transform science into lasting enterprises, and businesses into community advancement.
Nevertheless, he mentioned, unlocking this potential demands more than just scientific knowledge; it also involves business expertise, policy creativity, and funding for the bioeconomy.
Professor Ekundayo, who mentioned his aspiration to establish an Institute of Biotechnology at Federal University Lokoja, emphasized that
The moment has arrived for our university to take the forefront not just in creating knowledge, but also in applying it, turning laboratory findings into real-world advantages for farms, businesses, and local areas.
Let us be the generation that utilizes innovations and discoveries to tap into the power of biotechnology, transforming our biological resources into products, and from those products into businesses that positively influence our lives. We possess the resources. We have the capability. What we require is the determination to make it happen.
In his comments, the Deputy Chancellor of the federal university Lokoja, Professor
Olayemi Akinwumi stated that the inaugural lecture is more than a regular academic ceremony, but rather a profoundly significant and historic academic occasion within the university.
He stated, "It is the medium via which a scholar officially shares with the academic community and the public their experiences in research, instruction, and service."
It offers the audience a chance to understand the lecturer's area of expertise, their advancements in knowledge, and the effect of this work on society.
It also serves as a way to enhance research efforts at our university; encouraging teamwork, originality, and imaginative thinking.
The Vice Chancellor mentioned that the University views the Inaugural Lecture series as a key platform for showcasing the academic expertise of its staff to the country and the global community.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
