By Zainab Bakare
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish the Nigeria Genomic City, a flagship project designed to position the country as a leading African hub for genomics, biotechnology and precision medicine.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the initiative during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja. He said Nigeria must invest in science, research and innovation to avoid missing its demographic advantage.
Alausa described the project as a national investment that will improve healthcare, strengthen food security, drive scientific discoveries and support long-term economic growth. He said the initiative will help transition Nigeria from a resource-based economy to one powered by knowledge and technology.
The minister revealed that the University of Abuja will host the Nigeria Genomic City, while agencies including the National Information Technology Development Agency and the National Board for Technology Incubation will provide technical support. The Federal Ministry of Education will coordinate implementation.
He also disclosed that the government is finalising a National Research and Innovation Development Fund expected to mobilise nearly 500 million dollars annually for scientific research. According to Alausa, the project will protect Nigeria’s genomic resources, attract investment, create jobs and position the country as a global exporter of biotechnology innovations.
