Jane Salihu
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish the Nigeria Genomic City, a landmark initiative aimed at positioning the country as a global leader in genomics, biotechnology and precision medicine, while leveraging scientific innovation to diversify the economy and improve healthcare outcomes.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, where he warned that Nigeria’s growing population could become a national burden if the country fails to invest in research, science and innovation.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, Dr. Alausa said the Nigeria Genomic City represents a strategic national investment designed to harness Nigeria’s rich genomic resources for scientific discoveries, healthcare advancement, food security and sustainable economic growth.
He stressed that the project forms part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of transforming Nigeria from a resource-dependent economy into one driven by knowledge, research, technology and innovation.
“The biggest demographic dividend ever witnessed anywhere in the world could become a demographic calamity for us if we fail to act. We do not have a choice,” the minister said.
Dr. Alausa explained that the initiative was conceived over 20 months ago and intentionally structured as a multi-agency and multi-ministerial project to ensure broad national ownership rather than being controlled by a single institution or ministry.
He noted that while developed nations have built thriving industries around biotechnology and genomics, Nigeria has continued to underutilise its vast genetic resources, with much of Africa’s valuable genomic data generating economic benefits outside the continent.
The minister said the Federal Government is determined to protect Nigeria’s scientific assets through stronger data sovereignty, strategic investments and international partnerships that deliver mutual benefits.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government is finalising the establishment of the National Research and Innovation Development Fund, expected to mobilise nearly 500 million dollars annually to finance research and innovation across the country.
According to him, the proposed legislation establishing the fund will soon be presented to the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly before being transmitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.
Dr. Alausa announced that the University of Abuja will serve as the host institution for the Nigeria Genomic City, while the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the National Board for Technology Incubation and other strategic partners will provide technological and innovation support. He added that the Federal Ministry of Education will coordinate implementation and facilitate collaboration among participating institutions.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, described the initiative as a rare opportunity for Nigeria to emerge as a global leader in scientific innovation rather than remaining a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere.
She expressed confidence that Nigeria’s growing pool of researchers and technical experts would provide a solid foundation for the project’s success and pledged the ministry’s support in mobilising partnerships to ensure its successful implementation.
Presenting the technical framework for the initiative, the Pioneer Director of the Centre for Genomic and Precision Medicine at the University of Ibadan and initiator of the Nigeria Genomic City project, Professor Mayowa Ojo Owolabi, said the initiative would establish a national platform for genomic, biological and health data to support breakthroughs in disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment and drug discovery.
He added that the project would also strengthen agricultural productivity, improve food security, protect Nigeria’s genomic resources through robust data governance and intellectual property frameworks, and integrate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and bioinformatics.
Professor Owolabi further said the initiative would help develop a world-class scientific workforce, attract investments, deepen collaboration with Nigerian researchers in the diaspora and position the country as a global exporter of biotechnology innovations.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to providing the leadership and coordination needed to deliver the Nigeria Genomic City, expressing optimism that sustained collaboration among government institutions, academia, industry, development partners and the private sector would unlock Nigeria’s scientific potential and enhance its global competitiveness, the statement added.
