Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, emphasized the role of biotechnology in transforming healthcare delivery.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has declared biotechnology a critical pillar for healthcare transformation. Speaking at a workshop in Abuja, Salako said the Federal Government is fostering a safe, innovation-driven biotech ecosystem.
“Biotechnology opens doors to innovative diagnostics, therapeutics, immunotherapy, regenerative medicine, and the production of vaccines using recombinant DNA technology,” he said.
Salako addressed concerns over Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), calling for peer-reviewed evidence to back safety claims. “For over three decades, more than 2,000 scientific studies have consistently shown that GMO foods are as safe as conventional foods,” he noted.
He cited support from global scientific bodies and Nobel laureates, urging Nigerians to embrace biotechnology’s potential.
The ministry is working with agencies like NBMA and NAFDAC to enhance oversight and enforce labeling of GMO products.
“Our policies must be evidence-based, not driven by fear or vested interests,” he added, reinforcing the government’s commitment to health innovation.