The Federal Government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation are preparing to strengthen their partnership on bioethics development in Nigeria through a planned Memorandum of Understanding.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, on Friday.
Bioethics involves the ethical principles and guidelines that regulate scientific research and technological advancements in biotechnology and life sciences, focusing on human health, safety, and welfare.
Nnaji stated that the agreement seeks to build on the achievements of Nigeria’s Bioethics Committee since its inception.
He emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating that it underscores Nigeria’s commitment to ethical innovation and scientific advancement.
The statement follows a visit by the UNESCO Assisting Bioethics Committees Project team, members of the Bioethics Committee, and the Director-General of the National Biotechnology and Research Development Agency, led by Prof. Abdullahi Mustafa.
The delegation included Dafna Feinholz, Director of UNESCO’s Division of Ethics of Science and Technology, and Prof. Marie-Genevieve Pinsart.
Nnaji pointed out that the visit highlighted the importance of maintaining collaborative efforts with international organizations to strengthen Nigeria’s bioethics framework.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology was prominently represented on the global stage, thanks to the visionary leadership of President Bola Tinubu,” he stated.
The minister stated that this milestone has brought significant gains to Nigeria’s innovation, science, and technology sectors.
Nnaji emphasized that UNESCO’s dedication to enhancing Nigeria’s bioethics capacity through training and collaboration aligns with a shared vision for scientific and ethical progress.
