Nsan Ndoma NEJI , Calabar
Nigerian Society for Microbiology has urged governments at all levels to adopt microbial solutions in their effort to tackle environmental challenges such as oil spills,waste degredation for national prosperity.
The group made the remarks in a communique signed by the group’s President President, Prof. Saleh Ado,made available to journalists in Calabar, on Tuesday.
The communique issued at the end of 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM), of the society which took place at the University of Cross River (UNICROSSS)
The group averred that microbes played critical roles in bioremediation and restoration of ecosystems and could be very useful to a country like Nigeria which is still grappling with environmental challenges.
” Harnessing plants microbiomes is key to developing climate smart agriculture, improving soil fertility enhancing food productivity”,the society maintained.
The group Advocates policies that would integrate microbial innovations into the Nation food security strategies to boost food production.
Other resolutions reached at the conference include, call for greater investment in microbial biotechnology and entrepreneurial microbiology to promote a healthier society and sustainable economic prosperity.
The AGM stressed that Microbial bio-innovations can revolutionise the pharmaceutical sector through the
discovery of novel antibiotics, vaccines, probiotics, and microbial therapeutics.
The scientists urged the federal government, industries, and research institutes to foster collaborations that translate microbial research into affordable and accessible health solutions,advocates policies that integrate microbial innovations into national food security strategies.
They emphasizes capacity-building in OMICS technologies, calling on institutions of higher learning and government agencies to strengthen training and infrastructure in
this area.
They called for industrial applications of microbes in fermentation, biofuels, waste management, and bioprocessing can significantly boost Nigeria’s economy.
The scientists agitated for increased funding and private sector involvement in industrial microbiology research stressing that microbes play critical roles in bioremediation and restoration of degraded ecosystems, and called for Innovative microbial control technologies, including peptide-based methods, that are vital in ensuring food safety and reducing foodborne diseases.
The Society called on regulators and industries to embrace modern microbial food safety innovations and capacity building.
