1. BIOSAFETY COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES IN SSA: THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE

2. MAP OF NIGERIA SHOWING THE 36 STATES AND FCT

3. OBJECTIVES OF PUBLIC AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND PARTICIPATION IN BIOSAFETY Recognition of the public as a lawful collaborator Provision of timely, accurate and consistent information through credible sources Raising awareness amongst the various stakeholder Documentation and dissemination of relevant information Encouragement of public presentations and open debate Acknowledge that biosafety issues are multi-disciplinary

4. BIOSAFETY REGULATORY FRAMEWORK The Nigerian National Biosafety Framework (NNBF) deals with the regulation of all aspects of modern biotechnology The National Biosafety Committee (NBC) was established as a technical advisory body to the National competent authority (NCA) The NBC with membership from all relevant stakeholders reviews all applications for biotechnology activities in the country and advises as appropriate.

5. STATUS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA So far, Nigeria has commenced Confined Field Trials (CFTs) for Bio-Cassava plus, Bt Cowpea, and more recently Bio-fortified Sorghum at Umudike, and Zaria respectively

6. THE CFTs IN NIGERIA BIO-CASSAVA + BT COWPEA

7. COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES AND SENSITIZATION WORKSHOPS In order to achieve the objectives of biosafety communication we have adopted the following communication strategies: Workshops, seminars Press conferences, Press releases, Media Roundtable etc OFAB Study tours,open days, field days,, farm walk etc Media briefings (print and electronic)

8. ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR Workshops for parliamentarian and policy makers Study tour for parliamentarians and decision makers Sensitization workshop for the media Training workshops for the project team OFAB Development of country communication team The anti-GMO vigor was damped The passage of the Nigerian National Biosafety Bill was the climax of the effectiveness of our communication strategies

9. CHALLENGES Inadequate funds for the implementation of our annual work plan