By SYLVESTER THOMPSON

No doubt, Nigerian scientists are making global contributions in various fields of science and technology.

They have particularly excelled in areas like biotechnology, space research, and Information Communication Technology (ICT).

Their contributions range from groundbreaking research and technological innovations to developing solutions for local and global challenges.

The Nigerian Government, on its part, has been actively promoting Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) through various initiatives, including development of STI policies.

President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda emphasises STI as a growth engine for the nation with a view to fostering innovation and technological development.

Also, recently, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Dr Uche Nnaji, said Nigeria was working towards modeling robust policy frameworks to foster collaboration among academia, industry, and government.

“Our goal is to position Nigeria as a global leader in research and innovation; achieving this requires robust partnerships with international organisations, collaboration with leading research institutions, and showcasing Nigeria’s achievements on the global stage.

“By becoming a hub for impactful research, we can attract investments, build capacity, and develop solutions that address not just local but global challenges.

“In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda championed by the Tinubu administration, I want to reaffirm the government’s commitment to leveraging science, technology, and innovation to achieve economic diversification, industrialisation, and digital transformation,’’ he said.

Nigerians are making headlines in science and technology due to a combination of factors which include government initiatives, individual achievements, and growing investment in the sector.

One of such Nigerians is Dr Abraham Isah, an Environmental Biologist and Research Scientist, who has achieved global breakthrough in biotechnology research, pushing the boundary of scientific understanding and innovation.

Isah has joined the league of outstanding Nigerian scientists like Dr Festus Anagwu, who developed a high-performance, recyclable, and self-healing vitrimeric resin during his Doctorate degree (PhD) at Cranfield University.

On May 2, it was reported that Anagwu’s work on the novel resin had become part of a European aerospace project called PLAEIDES.

Isah’s ground breaking research marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s agricultural biotechnology landscape, potentially impacting global agriculture.

The Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN) and the University of Abuja both lauded and celebrated his remarkable achievement.

Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu, President of Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN), in a congratulatory message, said Isah’s PhD research work on the “Integrative Proteometabolomic and Ecotoxicogenomic Analysis of the Single-Line Transgenic Cowpea,’’ was pioneering.

According to her, the work stands out as a pioneering five-year study with seven international publications and two notable international conference presentations which yielded significant findings.

She said the remarkable achievement not only advanced scientific knowledge, but also bolsters Nigeria’s leadership in agricultural biotechnology.

Highlighting key objectives of the findings, Uzochukwu said that in protein expression analysis, the research identified substantial changes in protein expression with a fold-change threshold of >1.2 or <0.83.

Both expressions represent a logical condition involving numerical values.

The BSN president said functional classification mapped biological roles of deferentially abundant proteins via Gene Ontology (GO) omics.

Another objective was metabolomics perturbations, which investigated potential metabolic effects from the Cry1Ab transgene.

Cry1Ab transgene is a genetic construct that encodes a protein derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

This protein is part of the Cry (crystal) toxins family, which is known for its insecticidal properties.

Cry1Ab is widely used in genetically modified crops, such as Biotech (Bt) cotton and Bt corn, which have been engineered to express this protein.

Other objectives mentioned as achievable by Isah’s work were non-target organism (NTO) Impact, which assessed structural changes in arthropod communities from Cry1Ab exposure.

Evolutionary dynamics compared evolutionary patterns between transgenic and non-transgenic cowpea.

Environmental variation analysis conducted elemental profiling to analyse environmental impact.

The BSN President said that Isah’s work contributed to knowledge in various ways, representing a landmark in Nigeria’s agricultural biotechnology.

“This study offers an integrated omics approach, the first globally to combine proteomic, metabolomic and ecotoxicogenomic assessments for environmental evaluation of pod borer resistant (PBR) cowpea.

“Isah’s work also provides critical biodiversity insights, adding crucial data on the impact of transgenic crops on non-target organisms, thereby enriching our understanding of ecological effects in field conditions.

“It confirms the molecular stability of Cry1Ab in PBR cowpea, that it does not induce significant molecular changes which supports its environmental stability.

“It also establishes a Nigeria-specific risk assessment framework, and introduces an innovative molecular-ecological methodology for transgenic crop evaluation,’’ the BSN president said.

Prof. Lar Patricia Manko, Vice Chancellor (VC), University of Abuja, said at a Public Lecture on Agricultural Biotechnology, that Isah’s work was a shining example of the institution’s legacy in biotechnology.

“This research, completed here at the University of Abuja, was the first of its kind globally to integrate the consequences of proteometabolomic changes with biodiversity outcomes in Pod Borer Resistant transgenic cowpea.

“Part of its findings has been published in the highly reputable journal Peer J, earning widespread acclaim.’’

The vice-chancellor hinted that Isah’s pioneering work received global recognition when it was honored with a prestigious award at the World-renowned International Society for Biosafety Research (ISBR) symposium in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

She said the study’s innovative approach significantly enhanced global discussions on the safety of genetically modified (GM) crops.

Accordingly, that it has provided critical insights into how transgenic crops like the Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea (genetically modified, insect resistant beans) can be both environmentally safe and agriculturally transformative.

Manko noted that Isah’s research offered a robust framework for assessing the ecological impact of GM crops, influencing policy and scientific discourse worldwide.

“Today, his work continues to inspire confidence in the adoption of biotechnology, ensuring that small-holder farmers can cultivate resilient crops without compromising biodiversity,’’ Manko said.

Isah’s contributions also align with Nigeria’s national goals, and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) post Malabor strategy for 2025-2026.

Stakeholders say there is need for continued investment in research and partnership to build on this type of feat in order to position Nigeria as a leader in agricultural innovation. (NAN)