1. OFAB, Nigeria Chapter
Experience
By
Mrs Rose M. Gidado
OFAB Nigeria Event Manager/Organizer
AT THE
OFAB KATSINA 2012, STATE SECRETARIAT CONFERENCE HALL, STATE
SECRETARIATE COMPLEX, KATSINA, KATSINA STATE
13TH NOVEMBER 2012
3. About OFAB
• Launched in April 2009 in Nigeria, It’s a platform as
well as a knowledge-sharing and awareness creation
outfit on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety
issues that will
raise understanding and appreciation of agricultural
biotechnology and
contribute to building an enabling environment for
decision making
• OFAB is expected to ensure that quality knowledge is
disseminated to both policy makers and the larger
public through provision of factual information
4. OFAB Chapters
OFAB
Kenya
OFAB OFAB
Burkina Faso Uganda
AATF
OFAB OFAB
Ghana Tanzania
OFAB
Nigeria
5. Why OFAB?
• Negative perceptions of biotech and misinformed
discussions complicate decision making
• Well designed and executed communication activities
can achieve strong, science-based understanding &
appreciation of agricultural biotechnology
• Systematic, consistent provision of science-based
evidence will allow informed discussions and
eventually positive decision making
6. The OFAB
Platforms
Mass
Issue
Media
Management
Monthly
Documentation meetings
OFAB
Platforms
Special
Regional engagements
meetings
Social media
Capacity strengthening
7. OFAB Progress
• OFAB has facilitated several meetings in partner countries
to discuss pertinent issues contributing to good debate on
biotechnology and biosafety
• OFAB Nigeria Chapter has experienced-
– Raised levels of awareness
– Closed gap between scientists and journalists
– New contacts and business links
– Improved regulatory environments e.g. passage of BB
by the NASS.
8. OFAB , a powerful &
effective information
sharing tool
– OFAB Nigeria is a multi-stakeholder and multi-
disciplinary, drawing on a wide range of
expertise. We have been enjoying significant
convening power, demonstrated through its
track record of organizing regular monthly
meetings which attract large/diverse audiences
and prominent speakers.
10. 2011 OFAB Milestones and Accomplishments
Advocacy Visits to the Ex- President General
Olusegun Obsanjo , GFCR and Ex- minister of
Science & Technology, Professor Turner Isoun
Innovative OFAB Session tagged "Poster
OFAB", Third OFAB PC meeting
Second OFAB Session held outside
the Captial at IAR, Zaria
Fourth OFAB Session, held
in the Capital
Third OfAB Session, held
in the capital
Passasge of the Biosafety Bill, Second
OFAB session, in Abuja and creation
of the OFAB Nigeria facebook page
First OFAB Outside the Capital,
NRCRI, Umudike
Second OFAB PC
meeting
First OFAB
PC meeting
January April May June July August September November December
12. Opinion Survey Report of Participants in OFAB
2011 Sessions
Have you heard of GMOs and know what they are?
120%
100%
80%
60% Have you heard of GMOs and
know what they are?
96%
40%
20%
4%
0%
Yes No
13. Opinion Survey Report of Participants in OFAB
2011 Sessions
Would you consume GMOs?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
91% Would you consume GMOs?
40%
30%
20%
10%
9%
0%
Yes No
14. Other Activities
carried out
Biotechnology Study Tour to US with
the Media(both print and electronic
mediar reporters), Script writer, Film
Maker(Nollywood Actor), Seed Council,
Consumer Protection Council.
Radio Jingles in three Nigerian
Languages and English on
Biotechnology
16. USE OF TOP SOCIAL MEDIA
1. Face book- this has 750,000,000 estimated
monthly visitors
2. Twitter- while twitter has 250,000,000
estimated monthly visitors
17. Facebook
• Joined June 21, 2011
• OFAB Nigeria was the first chapter to use
Facebook as a tool.
19. Facebook Report
OFAB Hype Effect: The
number of ‘likes” or people
who visit the page and leaving
an impression usually peaks
around the time when
pictures are posted and
announcement are made) and
can be sustained for as long as
two weeks.
International Reach: It’s
interesting to note our reach
includes Turkey among other
international friends.
20. Social Networking
Report
Mobile Phones:
Our largest
audiences seem
to come from
people with
mobile devices.
21. Facebook Report
Reach: This month we reached
over a hundred people with
Facebook, consistent with
numbers over the last two
edition of OFABs with about
10 percent first timers. There’s
plenty room from
improvement.
22. Facebook Report
Time line
Potential: Our
time line (where
announcements
are made for
events and page
updates) seems
to have the
greater interest
for visitors, a
great potential
for targeting
information.
23. Twitter
• Joined June 15, 2012
• OFAB Nigeria was the first chapter to use
Twitter as a tool too!
24. Twitter
• “Tweets” are the number of posts
we have made.
– They include announcements for
OFAB events only which is a gross
under-utility.
25. Twitter…..
• “Followers” are the number of handle
owners that are following OFAB
nigeria on twitter.
• These include individuals, journals,
companies and agencies interested in
us what information we have to share
– A political analyst
– Kojoli farm Nigeria, Rice farms and seed
distributor
– Agriculture Biotech Africa, an NGO
– Mosanto, a pioneer biotech company
26. Twitter
• “Following” are the number of handle
owners we are following.
• These include reknown journals,
companies and agencies discussing
issues on agricultural biotechnology
35. Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Nigeria
Chapter
The Hon Ministers of Communications and that
of Science & Technology at the OFAB Launch
36. 4TH EDITION : TRANSCORP HILTON HOTEL ABUJA, 30TH JULY 2009
TOPIC: THE IMPERATIVES OF THE PASSAGE OF THE NIGERIA NATIONAL BIOSAFETY BILL INTO LAW
Participants
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Board member, AATF
Guest speaker, Mr.
Rufus Ebegba
Deliberation
37. 6TH EDITION : TRANSCORP HILTON HOTEL ABUJA, 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2009
TOPIC: The Intellectual Property Right (IPR)
Minister of Commerce &
Industries, Barrister Humphery
Abah
Participants
Guest speaker: DG/CEO.
NOTAP. ABUJA. Dr. Bindir
39. 2ND QUARTER, 1ST EDITION: CHELSEA HOTEL ABUJA, 29TH APRIL, 2010
TOPIC: Bio-fortification of Food Crops through the Application of Agricultural
Biotechnology
House committee
chairman on Agriculture
Minister & Perm.
Sec. S & T
Special Guests
Guest speaker, Dr.
Chiedozie Egesi PBS Representative
Farmers Association
Participants Representative
40. 2ND QUARTER 2ND EDITION : CHELSEA HOTEL ABUJA, 27TH MAY, 2010
TOPIC: Potential Benefits of Modern Biotechnology in National Economic
Development and Food Security for Nigeria
Minister for Agriculture,
Prof. Sheikh Abdullah
Guest speaker, Dr. Interactive Session
Mohammed
Participants
41. 3rd EDITION(MEDIA OFAB) : RADIO HOUSE, ABUJA, 24th June, 2010.
TOPIC: The Regulation of Modern Biotechnology for National
Development
Minister of Agric.
Minister of Sc & Tech
Guest speaker,
Rufus Ebegba
Media Participant
Rep, Minister of Environ. Rep, Minister of Inf. &
Communications
42. 2ND QUARTER 4th EDITION : CHELSEA HOTEL ABUJA, 29th July, 2010
TOPIC: Adaptation to Climate Change: PPP to Develop Water
Efficient Maize for Africa
Executive Secretary, ARCN
House Committee Chairman, Agric
Guest Speaker: Dr.
Sylvester Okeke
A Farmer
Hon. Minister of Environment Rep. DG/CEO,
Consumer
Protection
Council A Visitor from US
43. 2nd QUARTER 4th EDITION :ARCADE HOTEL ABUJA, 30th September, 2010
TOPIC: Biotechnology for food security – Looking through the Livestock lens
Rep. Minister of
Health
Guest Speaker: Dr
Acho Okike, ILRI
A Seed Company Rep
A Farmer, Chief Awoniyi
44. 2nd QUARTER 5th EDITION : ARCADE HOTEL, ABUJA, 28th October,
2010
TOPIC: Biotechnology Application in Aqua culture and Fisheries
Capacity Building in Nigeria
Rep. Minister of Water
Guest Speaker: Dr. Resources
Samuel Ofuegba
A cross section of
participants
45. 6th 8th EDITION : SENATE OFAB: ROOM 117, SENATE
BUILDING, NASS, ABUJA, 16th DECEMBER, 2010
Topics: The strategic importance of biotechnology to
national development; Prof. B.O. Solomon,DG/CEO-NABDA
Legislative requirements for domesticating the cartagena protocol
on biosafety (cpb); Mr. MPO Dore
The Burkina Faso Bt Cotton Experience: Chief Awoniyi
Senator Usman
Hambagda
47. 1st edition: National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI)
Umudike, Abia State 21st MAY, 2011.
Commissioning of NRCRI’s modern Biotechnology
Research Centre by
the Honourable Minster of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Professor Sheik Ahmed Abdullah
Commissioning of
Biotech Lab.
Minister of Agric. DG, NABDA
ED, NRCRI
Dr. N. Obokoh, AATF Rep.
48. 2nd EDITION :ARCADE HOTEL ABUJA, 23rd June, 2011
TOPIC: The Impact of National Intellectual Property Legislation on Agricultural
Research in Africa
Dr. N. Obokoh, AATF
Deliberations Rep. DG, NABDA
Deliberations
Participants
Deliberations
Participants
49. 3rd EDITION :ARCADE HOTEL ABUJA, 28th July, 2011
TOPIC: An Ethical Framework for Sustainable Agro-biotechnology
Development in Africa
Guest Speaker
Rep. Hon. Minister
of Science & Tech.
Participants
Rep. ED, NRCRI
Participants
50. 3rd EDITION :ARCADE HOTEL ABUJA, 25TH AUGUST, 2011
TOPIC: The CPC Perception about Genetically Enhanced
Foods
Guest Speaker, Mrs. Ify
Umeyi, DG/CEO, CPC
Prof. Magaji, Rep. ES,
ARCN
Participants
ES, ARCN, Rep. Hon.
Minister of Agric
Pualing Sharon,
UASID Rep.
DG/CEO, RMRDC, Rep. Hon.
Minister of Science & Tech. Russ Nicely, USDA Rep.
51. 5th EDITION :ABU/IAR, ZARIA, 29TH
SEPTEMBER, 2011
TOPIC: Field Evaluation of Transgenic Cowpea:
Opportunities and Challenges.
DG/CEO, RMRDC
Visit Cowpea Field Trial
Participants
Delibration
52. Special Poster OFAB Session
6th Edition :Gombe Jewel Hotel, Abuja, 24th November,
2011
Topic: Harnessing the Potential of Agricultural
Biotechnology for Food Security and Socio-
Economic Development in Nigeria.
54. 7TH EDITION :CHIEF OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, 27TH DECEMBER, 2011
Special OFAB held at Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Residence
Stakeholders delibrating with the formal
President, Chief Obasanjo
55. March Edition Gombe Jewel Hotel, Abuja, 29th
March, 2012
Topic: The Potentials of Bt-Cotton in
Revamping the Textile Industry.
Guest Speaker: Prof. Echekwu
56. Chairman, House
DG/CEO, NABDA Committee on Agric
Chairman, Senate
Hon. Minister of Prof. Magaji, Rep.
Committee on Agric.
State for Agric ES, ARCN
58. MAY 2012 EDITION
Topic: Biotechnology for Improved Soybean
Production in Nigeria
Guest Speaker: Prof. Chiezey, IAR Zaria
59. The Representative of the Hon.
The Representative of the Hon. The Guest Speaker, Prof. U.F.
Minister of State , Trade and
Minister of Environment Chiezey, IAR, Zaria
Investment
Prof. B.O. Solomon, Dr. Frances Chukwukere The Mr Dede, The Representative of
DG/CEO, NABDA Representative of the Executive the DG/CEO, NOTAP, Abuja
Secretary, NUC, Abuja
61. OFAB Nigeria Coordinator receiving an Award in honour of NABDA’s performance
from the Minister of Science & Technology Ghana, Mrs Ayeti, while the ED, AATF
looks on…
63. JUNE 2012 EDITION
Topic: “Biotechnology for Improved Cocoa
Production in Nigeria”
Guest Speaker: Dr. (Mrs) F. A. Okelana
Ag. Executive Director-Cocoa Research Institute of
Nigeria (CRIN)
65. L-R Commissioner for Agriculture, Bimbo Kolade, Senator Ayoade Ademola Adeseun
Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo second
to the left DG/CEO NABDA and Senator Ayoade
Ademola Adeseun
The House Committee chairman on science and
technology- Honourable Abiodun Akinlade granting a
Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo press interview
66. The DG/ CEO Prof. B.O. Solomon of NABDA granting a Cross section of Famers
press interview
USDA Rep. Mercela A.
Group Photograph
67. JULY 2012 EDITION
Topic: “Integrating biotechnology and
conventional approaches towards
improving cassava production in
Nigeria”
Guest Speaker: Dr. Chiedozie Egesi
Assistant Director (Biotechnology) and Product Development Manager
BioCassava Plus
National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State,
Nigeria
68. Cross section of the high table
Exhibition stand of Cassava Products
Guest Speaker
69. Special OFAB Session for the Seed
Sub-Subsector, 6th August 2012
Aim:to sensitize and enlighten stakeholders in the Seed
Industry of the Agricultural Sector on the eminent adoption of
biotechnology and the use of genetically enhanced seeds and
seedlings to increase agricultural productivity in the country
70.
71. AUGUST EDITION OF OFAB
NORTH CENTRAL ZONAL HOSTING
AT
BENUE STATE, 6th September 2012
72. Two Topics were covered in Benue
– The Role of Biotechnology In Improving Yam for
Income and Food Security In Nigeria- Dr. Joe Onyeka,
NRCRI, Umudike
– Improving Soybean Productivity Using
Biotechnology Approach In Nigeria-Dr Ishaq Mohammed,
NCRI, Baddegi
80. Conclusion
OFAB Nigeria Chapter has grown beyond ordinary monthly
forum on agricultural biotechnology awareness, but also
provides link and platform under which the Local farmers
come face to face with the State government to exchange
views and ideas, discuss challenges they encounter and try
to proffer solution on how to move forward in agriculture in
the country.
