Dr Rufus Ebegba, the Director-General of National Biosafety Management Agency, says accurate and scientifically-proven communication will help in analysing the benefits of modern technologies.
He said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday.
Ebegba said that the role of communication in achieving sustainable livelihoods through science and modern technologies could not be over-emphasised.
He said: “Science and technology are essential for our well-being; they are drivers of change and they provide most innovative and sustainable jobs in the world today.
“However, we see increasingly in our society that there is a problem with how certain innovations are perceived and this brings mistrust and even fear of science and technology.
“Some argue that there is a communication gap between scientists and society, owing to the inability of some scientists to communicate in plain language.
“Others insist that public ignorance and misunderstanding are to blame for this negative attitude.’’
Ebegba said that mistrust and fear of science and technology could become serious problems, especially when it began to influence how quickly a technology was adopted to solve local problems and drive national development.
He said: “The controversy surrounding modern biotechnology, genetically modified organisms and biosafety, in particular, is an example of how the gap between scientific findings and public opinions or attitudes can threaten new technological innovations.
“Issues like these are precisely why good scientific communication is important.
“And the media is a powerful tool which we must use to take Nigeria from being a net consumer of the products of scientific innovation to being a pioneer in various scientific and technological fields.
“Science communication must first and foremost be evidence-based, factual and solution-based; it keys into global trends and international best practices in the field of science reporting.
“Science communication should not peddle sensationalism, conspiracy theories and half-baked data from unverified sources or uncorroborated statements as facts.’’
Ebegba said that good science communication should help build the consciousness of the people and educate them on the truth about certain controversial scientific and technological innovations.
He said: “Communicating science is a vital ingredient for development, so safe science is a foundation for national development and if this foundation is not properly communicated, the nation may not reap the desired benefits.
“Communicating safe science appropriately will make Nigerians understand and appreciate the role science can play in their daily lives, especially in agricultural development and industrial growth.
“This will also inspire our youths to boldly enter various fields of scientific study.’’
The director-general said that in the case of modern biotechnology and its products, some activists had taken to misinforming people and misrepresenting facts, thereby inciting the citizenry against government agencies like the NBMA.
He said: “NBMA is here to protect the health of Nigerians and the environment and not a promoter of modern biotechnology or GMOs.
“Nigeria decided 17 years ago to deploy modern biotechnology as a tool for improving agriculture by the establishment of National Biotechnology Development Agency.
“And NBMA was established by the government in 2015 to regulate the practice of this technology, especially as it pertains to GMOs and tackle the risks that may be associated with the technology.’’
Ebegba said that the agency had been striving to educate the public and the media about its regulatory functions on the practice of modern biotechnology in Nigeria.
He said: “We have created a robust and interactive website (www.nbma.gov.ng) and we are active on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
“Through these platforms, we provide evidence-based information to the public about biosafety.’’
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