The Alliance for Science (AFS), in conjunction with the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Nigeria, Boyce Thomson Institute, and IITA–CGIAR, organized a 3-day training for scientists and science communicators on Communicating Gene Editing in Abuja, Nigeria. The training took place on 19−21 September and aimed to provide participants with the appropriate communication skills to communicate on gene editing for food sustainability, nutrition, and security in Africa.
Executive Director of the Alliance for Science, Dr Sheila Ochugboju, opened the event with a keynote speech. She recognized the need for such training events, as a former scientist herself, who completed her postdoctoral research in Oxford University, working on genetic engineering for biological pesticides. She was visibly moved to return to her home country Nigeria, to welcome scientists and communicators creating an enabling environment for world-class science and innovation.
Also, IITA Head of Abuja station, and BASICS II project leader, Prof. Sanni Lateef in his remarks at the opening event encouraged the next generation of scientist-participants to exceed the achievements of the older scientists in terms of scientific research and innovations. “Science is evolving, and we need a new generation of science inventors to keep up with it,” he said.
OFAB Country Coordinator Dr Rose Gidado and IITA Plantain Transformation Scientist Valentine Ntui explained the science of gene editing. They pointed out that genome editing is a revolution for science and medicine that takes advantage of the cell’s DNA repair mechanisms, resulting in many different molecular outcomes.