Nigeria, UNESCO Partner to Advance Bioethics Development

Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Chairman of the National Bioethics Committee of Nigeria (NBEC), has highlighted the significance of Nigeria’s collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in advancing bioethics.

This partnership aims to uphold ethical standards in Nigeria, ensuring that scientific advancements align with societal values and respect for human rights.

Mustapha, who is the Director General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), said this at the opening ceremony of the NBEC training on Monday in Abuja.

He stated that the NBEC served as an advisory body to the government, guiding bioethical challenges in healthcare, biology, and biomedical sciences.

According to him, the initial training of NBEC members by UNESCO is a crucial step in equipping the committee to fulfil its responsibilities effectively.

“The training will equip us with the necessary tools to address the ethical dilemmas that arise in our rapidly evolving world.

“Additionally, it will strengthen our capacity to provide sound, evidence-based recommendations to the government, institutions, and broader society on bioethics issues,” he said.

Mr Abdourahamane Diallo, Head of UNESCO Abuja, noted that the training programme was part of UNESCO’s global initiative to empower bioethics committees and ensured that ethical principles remained at the core of decision-making in innovation and research.

“This programme is uniquely aligned with Nigeria’s national vision, as outlined in the Nigeria Vision 20:2020 Economic Transformation Blueprint, which aims to promote responsible scientific exploration and foster sustainable development.

“By doing so, we collectively affirm our commitment to ensuring that innovation and development across all sectors serve humanity, uphold ethical standards, and contribute positively to societal well-being,” Diallo said.

Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, represented by Mr Olayiwola Agoro, Deputy Director, Department of Bioresources, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, declared the training open.

Nnaji emphasised that the NBEC would help promote responsible and ethical conduct, guiding ethical issues related to biotechnology, agriculture, education, the environment, biomedical research, and health.

The minister highlighted the importance of the NBEC in guiding the development of policies, guidelines, and regulations that promote ethical conduct and responsible innovations.