FG Plans Nigeria Genomic City to Drive Research, Healthcare Growth
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
ABUJA, Nigeria– The Federal Government has announced plans to establish the Nigeria Genomic City as part of efforts to strengthen scientific research, improve healthcare delivery and build a knowledge-driven economy.
The initiative was unveiled on Thursday during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the project would help Nigeria harness its vast genomic resources for advances in medicine, biotechnology, agriculture and economic development.
Alausa warned that Nigeria’s rapidly growing population could become a burden rather than an advantage if the country failed to invest in research, innovation and science. He said the project reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to creating sustainable opportunities through technology and knowledge-based industries.
According to the minister, the Nigeria Genomic City has been designed as a national project involving several ministries and agencies to ensure broad participation and long-term sustainability. He stressed that the initiative belongs to the country rather than any single institution.
He disclosed that the University of Abuja would host the facility, while agencies including the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Board for Technology Incubation would provide technical and innovation support. The Federal Ministry of Education will coordinate implementation.
Alausa also revealed that the government is concluding work on the National Research and Innovation Development Fund, expected to generate nearly 500 million dollars annually to support research and innovation across Nigeria, subject to legislative approval.
Presenting the technical framework, Prof. Mayowa Ojo Owolabi, Director of the Centre for Genomic and Precision Medicine at the University of Ibadan, said the project would establish a national platform for genomic, biological and health data to support breakthroughs in disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
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Korede Abdullah 
Hussaini Ibrahim 
