The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has initiated a Plant Specie Restoration Project across the 774 local government areas of the country so as to conserve rare plants for medicinal use in the future.
The Minister of State for Science and Technology, Barrister Mohammed disclosed this in his opening remarks at the webinar on Science Advice for Covid-19 pandemic in the context of Biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration organized by UNESCO regional office on Tuesday, in Abuja.
Nigeria, according to Barrister Mohammed, is endowed with enormous biological resources stretched across the country that can ensure sustainable development and healthy ecosystem.
Barrister Abdullahi also said that the Ministry is working tirelessly to ensure much value is added to innovative programs in the development of indigenous bio-resources using appropriate technologies.
“The Ministry is also partnering with the Nigeria Academy of Sciences to evaluate claims of possible cure for the covid-19. We are working on that and hopefully some tangible outcome will be provided” he added.
The Minister stressed the importance of Science, Technology and Innovation in addressing the challenges and problem bedeviling human development and growth.
He further said that the Ministry and its agencies had made significant interventions in the fight against covid-19 through the application of various approaches encompassing Preventive, Curative and Scientific evaluation of drugs samples and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
The National Centre for Genetic Engineering of the Ministry which is also in the forefront of conserving the abundant plant generic resources of Nigeria.
“Various collaborations and linkages with other shareholders are on process to address the different climate issues such as climate change and bio-diversity.” he added.
He commended UNESCO for the initiative and hoped that the webinar will chart new frontiers in the global efforts to conserve the diverse bio-ecosystems for future generations.
Participants at the webinar included Dr. Mohammad Abubakar (Minister of Environment), Mr. Olagunju Idowu (Secretary General, Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO), Prof. K. Motso Onuah (President Nigerian Academy of Science) Prof. Adeshola Adepoju (Director General, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria),Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni ( Conservator General, National Park Service), Dr. Oladoyin Odunbanjo ( Executive Secretary, Nigerian Academy of Science) and Dr. Uzodimma Adirieje ( Chair, Technical Group, NIBEST).
