UNN hosts UNESCO biotech centre

Prof. Rufai, Education Minister

The Federal Government of Nigeria and United National Education, Scientific and Culture Organisation (UNESCO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a UNESCO category II biotechnology centre at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

The Director General of UNESCO, Mrs. Irina Bokova, signed the MoU for her organisation, while the Minister of Education, Prof. (Mrs) Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai dotted the lines for government of Nigeria, recently in Paris.

A press statement made available to DigitalSENSE Business News, showed that by locating the UNESCO international Institute of Biotechnology at UNN is a plus to the education and science technology sectors respectively in Nigeria.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that the MoU followed the endorsement of the International Institute for Biotechnology at the 36th session of the UNESCO General Conference, which held in Paris, June 2011.

Part of the statement read that the proposal by the Nigerian government to establish an international centre for biotechnology in Nsukka, with the support of UNESCO conforms with principles, guidelines, hence the authorization of the Director General to sign an agreement for her establishment.

Further details on the UNESCO International Institute of Biotechnology at UNN indicates that it would conduct advanced training, education and research in biotechnology with emphasis on food security, bio-resource conservation and tropical diseases.

In addition, the centre will host international conferences, and collaborate with other institutions in Nigeria and the rest of Africa to advance biotechnology education on the continent.

Reacting, the Vice-Chancellor, UNN, Prof. Bartholomew Okolo, who was a delegate to the signing ceremony in Paris, said the centre is the only one of its kind in Africa and has the mandate to address the problems of food security and tropical diseases in Africa.

Okolo expressed confident the centre would live up to its mandates, adding that the process which began six years ago has come to a climax, noting that as a professor of biotechnology, he was involved in the process.

Remmy Nweke

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