NBRDA boss Prof. Mustapha has urged journalists to counter misinformation, promote evidence-based reporting on GMOs
In a strategic move to bridge the knowledge gap and dispel myths surrounding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) in collaboration with the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Nigeria chapter, and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), on Monday, June 30, 2025, hosted a one-day sensitisation workshop for members of the House of Representatives Press Corps in Abuja.
Held at Denis Hotel, the workshop brought together journalists covering Nigeria’s legislature for an interactive engagement aimed at strengthening public understanding of GMOs and their role in addressing the country’s agricultural and food security challenges.
In his welcome address, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NBRDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, described the workshop as timely, noting that it comes at a period when many developing nations, including Nigeria, are contending with food insecurity, climate change, and the need for inclusive economic growth.
“Responsibly developed and effectively adopted agricultural biotechnology offers a powerful set of tools to address these interconnected problems,” Mustapha said.
He emphasised that modern biotechnology, including GMOs, is central to Nigeria’s climate-smart agricultural solutions. He cited innovations such as drought-tolerant maize, pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea, bacterial blight-resistant potatoes, and insect-tolerant cotton as examples of scientific advancements with the potential to transform farming systems and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
However, the NBRDA boss expressed concern over the prevalence of misinformation and disinformation surrounding GMOs, describing them as a major barrier to public trust and policy progress.
“In the context of GMOs and biotechnology, these distortions of truth are dangerous because they lead people to make decisions based on inaccurate or false information,” he stated, calling on the press to rise as defenders of evidence-based discourse.
Mustapha urged journalists to embrace their responsibility as “custodians of truth” and to deepen collaboration with the scientific community in order to promote clarity, accuracy, and public trust in biotechnology reporting.
Speaking on behalf of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Chairman, Gboyega Onadiran, commended the organisers for prioritising media engagement on such a critical issue.
“This training is a privilege, and it underscores the importance of the media in shaping public perception on biotechnology and agricultural innovation,” Onadiran said.
He acknowledged the complexity of the GMO debate, noting that while advocates argue for increased yields and sustainability, critics warn of potential risks to health, the environment, and local economies.
“Today, we have the opportunity to listen to experts and ask questions. Our goal as journalists is to ensure that Nigerians receive balanced, factual, and contextual information on GMOs,” he added, calling for the workshop to become an annual capacity-building event for the press.
The session featured technical presentations from biotech experts, scientists, and policy advocates, all geared toward equipping journalists with the tools needed to accurately report on the science, policies, and implications of GMOs in Nigeria.
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The workshop concluded with a call for stronger media-science collaboration to combat misinformation and ensure that the Nigerian public is well-informed on scientific developments that affect national development, food systems, and public health.
