The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish the Nigeria Genomic City, an initiative aimed at driving scientific research, improving healthcare, strengthening food security and promoting economic growth through the country’s genomic resources.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the project during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, warning that Nigeria’s growing population could become a burden unless the country invests deliberately in research, science and innovation.
He described the Genomic City as a strategic national project designed to position Nigeria as a leading African hub for genomics, biotechnology and precision medicine, adding that it would be implemented through collaboration among several government agencies.
Alausa also disclosed that the government was concluding plans to establish a National Research and Innovation Development Fund, expected to mobilise about 500 million dollars annually to support research across the country.
The minister said the University of Abuja would host the Nigeria Genomic City, while agencies including the National Information Technology Development Agency and the National Board for Technology Incubation would provide technical support.
Presenting the project framework, Prof. Mayowa Ojo Owolabi of the University of Ibadan said the initiative would promote disease prevention, biotechnology innovation, improved agriculture, investment and workforce development while protecting Nigeria’s genomic resources.
The government expressed confidence that the project would transform Nigeria into a global centre for genomics research, reduce dependence on imported medical technologies and support long-term economic diversification through science and innovation.
