National Biotechnology Development Agency(NABDA) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with RAHAD Industries and Mesencell Biotechnology to boost the economy.
The Director General of NABDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha said the MoA was the beginning of a new chapter in the area of scientific biotechnology in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Morocco and Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had on Oct. 25 in Abuja, Nigeria, for the research and development of biotechnological products and processes, including the production of bio-fertilizer and bio-fungicide.
Rahad Global Investment Limited signed the agreement on behalf of Morocco, while the Nigerian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation signed on behalf of the Federal Government.
Rahad Global Investment Limited is the Nigerian subsidiary of the Moroccan company, RVD Equipment Industries.
The agreement covers a variety of research and development efforts in many biotechnological products, including drinking water and wastewater treatment.
Others are gas treatment, sulphur dioxide reduction, soil biodegradation, the use of stem cells for diabetics and cancer-related diseases.
Mustapha said NABDA is an agency that was using biotechnology to promote development in the country, saying that RAHAD was a company that involves biotechnology, research and development.
” Over a year ago, we had signed the MOU through the Ministry of Science and Technology and Innovation with these companies.
” The MoU is on the development of technologies that they have already brought the technologies to the country.
“Part of the MoU is to domesticate the technology here in the country for us to have first hand skills, ” he said.
Mustapha said scientists and researchers would be properly trained on the usage of the technologies across the country.
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The Managing Director, Rahad RVD industries, Chbihi Driss said a subsidiary of their group had developed four important technologies for Nigeria.
Driss said these technologies include biotechnology for tank farm cleaning and soil biorefediatior against pollution.
Others are biotechnological fertilizer to reduce the use of chemical products and increase the cultivable lands for self sufficiency in consumable products and fertilizer products.
“Others include waste water treatment to provide potable water in high quality and to avoid the diseases transmitted by waste water that make pollution.
” Regenerative medicine, innunotherapy and vaccines for Nigeria and West Africa,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Mesencell Biotech, Steven Kellener, said regenerative medicine was the vision of 21st century.
(NAN)
