The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) says it will implement and expand the National Genomics and Bioinformatics Data Generation Repository, one of its flagship initiatives aimed at strengthening biotechnology development, genomic research, healthcare innovation, bioinformatics infrastructure, and Nigeria’s participation in the global bioeconomy.
Speaking after the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Agency and Basani Digital Innovations Limited, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NBRDA and Indigenous Bio Incorporated, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, said both agreements are designed to advance Nigeria’s biotechnology, genomics, and digital health ecosystem.
Professor Mustapha noted that over the past two decades, Nigeria’s biotechnology ecosystem has witnessed steady growth, with increasing adoption across academia, research institutions, healthcare, agriculture, and industry.
According to him, in today’s knowledge-driven global economy powered by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, scientific advancement is increasingly anchored on genomics and data science—fields that enable high-precision, evidence-based solutions to complex challenges.
The Director-General added that much of the genomic data currently in use, estimated at over 80 per cent, is derived from non-African populations, presenting both a gap and an opportunity.
“Nigeria, as the most populous Black nation, possesses vast and largely untapped genetic diversity across humans, plants, animals, and microorganisms. Unlocking this resource is not only a scientific necessity but an economic imperative,” Professor Mustapha said.
He explained that the National Genomics and Bioinformatics Data Generation, Repository and Management Infrastructure is a strategic national intervention.
“It is designed to establish a sovereign, secure, and inclusive genomic database that captures Nigeria’s indigenous biodiversity. This infrastructure will serve as the backbone for innovation across sectors; supporting precision medicine, climate-resilient agriculture, industrial biotechnology, and environmental sustainability, while ensuring that Nigeria retains ownership and control of its genetic resources within a robust data governance framework,” Professor Mustapha said.
The initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of economic diversification, digital innovation, healthcare transformation, youth empowerment, and sustainable national development.
The infrastructure will also support the actualisation of the Nigeria Biogenomes Project, positioning the country to generate, curate, and utilise genomic data as a national asset. Through this, Nigeria will transition from being a consumer of foreign genomic data to a producer of globally relevant biological knowledge and solutions.
Opportunities Across Sectors
The Director-General outlined the transformative opportunities the initiative offers across multiple sectors:
- Healthcare and Precision Medicine: Enabling early disease detection, personalized treatment, drug discovery, and improved public health surveillance tailored to Nigerian populations.
- Agriculture and Food Security: Supporting the development of high-yielding, climate-resilient crops and livestock, enhancing food systems, and reducing post-harvest losses.
- Industrial Biotechnology: Driving bio-manufacturing, enzyme production, bioplastics, and bio-based industrial inputs, thereby reducing dependence on imports.
- Environmental Sustainability: Facilitating biodiversity conservation, bioremediation, and climate adaptation strategies based on indigenous biological resources.
- Digital Economy and Bioinformatics: Creating a new frontier where biology meets data science, artificial intelligence, and fintech; unlocking value from genomic data.”
Public-Private Partnerships
In line with global best practices, Professor Mustapha, said NBRDA is leveraging strategic public-private partnerships to accelerate the realisation of the initiative.
He explained that the Agency signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Basani Digital Innovations Limited, a Nigerian company with expertise in IT-driven healthcare innovation and digital health platforms, following an earlier MoU signed last year.
This partnership according to him will: “expand access to digital healthcare solutions, particularly in rural and underserved communities, accelerate biomedical research and commercialization, strengthen Nigeria’s health data infrastructure and interoperability.”
NBRDA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indigenous Bio Incorporated, an American Bio-FinTech and AI-driven biotechnology company.
Through this collaboration, afvanced platforms such as the Clinico-Genomic Intelligence Engine and GenEQ will be deployed. Nigeria will gain capacity in genomic data generation, analytics, and tokenization, new models for value creation from biological data will emerge within a secure and ethical framework.
According to the Director-General, these partnerships will “stimulate the emergence of Bio-FinTech ecosystems, integrating biotechnology, finance, and digital innovation. They will also enable clinico-genomic applications, transforming diagnostics, therapeutics, and healthcare delivery systems in Nigeria”.
The Bioinformatics Data Generation, Repository and Management Infrastructure represents more than infrastructure; it is a national strategic asset that positions Nigeria at the forefront of the global bioeconomy. It provides a platform for scientific excellence, economic diversification, and inclusive development.
The effective deployment of the infrastructure will require strong collaboration with relevant MDAs to fully realise the potential of Nigeria’s genetic resources, human, animal, plant, and microbial. The system is designed to maintain and manage a national repository of genomic data through a user interface that promotes scalability and interoperability among stakeholders.
Professor Mustapha said that by investing in genomics and bioinformatics today, Nigeria is laying the foundation for a future where its biological resources are not only protected but also transformed into drivers of prosperity, innovation, and global competitiveness.
