Ofab katsina

OFAB, Nigeria Chapter Experience

By

Mrs Rose M. Gidado

OFAB Nigeria Event Manager/Organizer AT THE

OFAB KATSINA 2012, STATE SECRETARIAT CONFERENCE HALL, STATE SECRETARIATE COMPLEX, KATSINA, KATSINA STATE

13TH NOVEMBER 2012

Knowledge for Progress

About OFAB

• Launched in April 2009 in Nigeria, It’s a platform as well as a knowledge-sharing and awareness creation outfit on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety issues that will

raise understanding and appreciation of agricultural biotechnology and

contribute to building an enabling environment for decision making

• OFAB is expected to ensure that quality knowledge is disseminated to both policy makers and the larger public through provision of factual information

OFAB Chapters

AATF OFAB

Uganda

OFAB Tanzania

OFAB Nigeria

OFAB Burkina Faso

OFAB Kenya

OFAB Ghana

Why OFAB?

• Negative perceptions of biotech and misinformed discussions complicate decision making

• Well designed and executed communication activities can achieve strong, science-based understanding & appreciation of agricultural biotechnology

• Systematic, consistent provision of science-based evidence will allow informed discussions and eventually positive decision making

The OFAB Platforms

Mass Media

Monthly meetings

Social media

Special engagements Regional

meetings

Documentation OFAB

Platforms

Capacity strengthening

Issue Management

OFAB Progress

• OFAB has facilitated several meetings in partner countries to discuss pertinent issues contributing to good debate on biotechnology and biosafety

• OFAB Nigeria Chapter has experienced-

– Raised levels of awareness

– Closed gap between scientists and journalists

– New contacts and business links

– Improved regulatory environments e.g. passage of BB by the NASS.

OFAB , a powerful & effective information

sharing tool

– OFAB Nigeria is a multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary, drawing on a wide range of expertise. We have been enjoying significant convening power, demonstrated through its track record of organizing regular monthly meetings which attract large/diverse audiences and prominent speakers.

Some Success stories

DecemberJuly August September NovemberJanuary April May June

2011 OFAB Milestones and Accomplishments

First OFAB PC meeting

Second OFAB PC meeting

First OFAB Outside the Capital, NRCRI, Umudike

Passasge of the Biosafety Bill, Second

OFAB session, in Abuja and creation of the OFAB Nigeria facebook page

Third OfAB Session, held in the capital

Fourth OFAB Session, held in the Capital

Second OFAB Session held outside the Captial at IAR, Zaria

Innovative OFAB Session tagged "Poster OFAB", Third OFAB PC meeting

Advocacy Visits to the Ex- President General Olusegun Obsanjo , GFCR and Ex- minister of Science & Technology, Professor Turner Isoun

Opinion Survey Report of Participants at OFAB

2011 sessions

Opinion Survey Report of Participants in OFAB

2011 Sessions

96%

4% 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Yes No

Have you heard of GMOs and know what they are?

Have you heard of GMOs andknow what they are?

Opinion Survey Report of Participants in OFAB

2011 Sessions

91%

9% 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes No

Would you consume GMOs?

Would you consume GMOs?

Other Activities carried out

Biotechnology Study Tour to US with the Media(both print and electronic mediar reporters), Script writer, Film Maker(Nollywood Actor), Seed Council, Consumer Protection Council.

Radio Jingles in three Nigerian Languages and English on Biotechnology

Initiatives & Strategies

USE OF TOP SOCIAL MEDIA

1. Face book- this has 750,000,000 estimated monthly visitors

2. Twitter- while twitter has 250,000,000 estimated monthly visitors

Facebook

• Joined June 21, 2011

• OFAB Nigeria was the first chapter to use Facebook as a tool.

Our page on facebook

Facebook Report

OFAB Hype Effect: The number of ‘likes” or people who visit the page and leaving an impression usually peaks around the time when pictures are posted and announcement are made) and can be sustained for as long as two weeks. International Reach: It’s interesting to note our reach includes Turkey among other international friends.

Social Networking Report

Mobile Phones: Our largest audiences seem to come from people with mobile devices.

Facebook Report

Reach: This month we reached over a hundred people with Facebook, consistent with numbers over the last two edition of OFABs with about 10 percent first timers. There’s plenty room from improvement.

Facebook Report

Time line Potential: Our time line (where announcements are made for events and page updates) seems to have the greater interest for visitors, a great potential for targeting information.

Twitter

• Joined June 15, 2012

• OFAB Nigeria was the first chapter to use Twitter as a tool too!

Twitter

• “Tweets” are the number of posts we have made.

– They include announcements for OFAB events only which is a gross under-utility.

Twitter…..

• “Followers” are the number of handle owners that are following OFAB nigeria on twitter.

• These include individuals, journals, companies and agencies interested in us what information we have to share – A political analyst

– Kojoli farm Nigeria, Rice farms and seed distributor

– Agriculture Biotech Africa, an NGO

– Mosanto, a pioneer biotech company

Twitter

• “Following” are the number of handle owners we are following.

• These include reknown journals, companies and agencies discussing issues on agricultural biotechnology

WHERE WE CAN BE Part Two

Private Biotech Companies

Government Agencies

Justin Bieber

OFAB info Materials

REPORTS EVENT SCHEDULE

PROGRAMMES FACTS SHEETS HANDBOOKS

NEWSLETTERS

Banners of Past Events

Ibadan, June 2012

Zaria, May 2011

Owerri, July 2012

Abuja, November 2011

OFAB PICTURE GALLERY SINCE 2009

Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Nigeria Chapter

The Hon Ministers of Communications and that of Science & Technology at the OFAB Launch

4TH EDITION : TRANSCORP HILTON HOTEL ABUJA, 30TH JULY 2009

TOPIC: THE IMPERATIVES OF THE PASSAGE OF THE NIGERIA NATIONAL BIOSAFETY BILL INTO LAW

Deliberation

Participants

Guest speaker, Mr. Rufus Ebegba

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Board member, AATF

6TH EDITION : TRANSCORP HILTON HOTEL ABUJA, 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2009

TOPIC: The Intellectual Property Right (IPR)

Guest speaker: DG/CEO. NOTAP. ABUJA. Dr. Bindir

Minister of Commerce & Industries, Barrister Humphery Abah

Participants

SUMMARY OF OFAB 2010 Activities

2ND QUARTER, 1ST EDITION: CHELSEA HOTEL ABUJA, 29TH APRIL, 2010

TOPIC: Bio-fortification of Food Crops through the Application of Agricultural Biotechnology

Guest speaker, Dr. Chiedozie Egesi

Participants

House committee chairman on Agriculture

PBS Representative

Farmers Association Representative

Minister & Perm. Sec. S & T

Special Guests

2ND QUARTER 2ND EDITION : CHELSEA HOTEL ABUJA, 27TH MAY, 2010

TOPIC: Potential Benefits of Modern Biotechnology in National Economic

Development and Food Security for Nigeria

Guest speaker, Dr. Mohammed

Minister for Agriculture, Prof. Sheikh Abdullah

Participants

Interactive Session

3rd EDITION(MEDIA OFAB) : RADIO HOUSE, ABUJA, 24th June, 2010. TOPIC: The Regulation of Modern Biotechnology for National

Development

Guest speaker, Rufus Ebegba

Media Participant

Minister of Agric.

Minister of Sc & Tech

Rep, Minister of Inf. & Communications

Rep, Minister of Environ.

2ND QUARTER 4th EDITION : CHELSEA HOTEL ABUJA, 29th July, 2010

TOPIC: Adaptation to Climate Change: PPP to Develop Water

Efficient Maize for Africa

Hon. Minister of Environment

Guest Speaker: Dr. Sylvester Okeke

Executive Secretary, ARCN House Committee Chairman, Agric

A Farmer

A Visitor from US

Rep. DG/CEO, Consumer Protection Council

2nd QUARTER 4th EDITION :ARCADE HOTEL ABUJA, 30th September, 2010

TOPIC: Biotechnology for food security – Looking through the Livestock lens

Rep. Minister of Health

Guest Speaker: Dr Acho Okike, ILRI

A Seed Company Rep

A Farmer, Chief Awoniyi

2nd QUARTER 5th EDITION : ARCADE HOTEL, ABUJA, 28th October, 2010

TOPIC: Biotechnology Application in Aqua culture and Fisheries Capacity Building in Nigeria

Guest Speaker: Dr. Samuel Ofuegba

Rep. Minister of Water Resources

A cross section of participants

6th 8th EDITION : SENATE OFAB: ROOM 117, SENATE

BUILDING, NASS, ABUJA, 16th DECEMBER, 2010

Topics: The strategic importance of biotechnology to

national development; Prof. B.O. Solomon,DG/CEO-NABDA

Legislative requirements for domesticating the cartagena protocol

on biosafety (cpb); Mr. MPO Dore

The Burkina Faso Bt Cotton Experience: Chief Awoniyi

Senator Usman Hambagda

OFAB NIGERIA 2011 Events

1st edition: National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI)

Umudike, Abia State 21st MAY, 2011. Commissioning of NRCRI’s modern Biotechnology

Research Centre by the Honourable Minster of Agriculture and Rural Development, Professor Sheik Ahmed Abdullah

Minister of Agric. DG, NABDA

Commissioning of Biotech Lab.

ED, NRCRI

Dr. N. Obokoh, AATF Rep.

2nd EDITION :ARCADE HOTEL ABUJA, 23rd June, 2011

TOPIC: The Impact of National Intellectual Property Legislation on Agricultural Research in Africa

Participants

Participants Deliberations

Deliberations DG, NABDA

Deliberations

Dr. N. Obokoh, AATF Rep.

3rd EDITION :ARCADE HOTEL ABUJA, 28th July, 2011

TOPIC: An Ethical Framework for Sustainable Agro-biotechnology

Development in Africa

Participants

Rep. Hon. Minister of Science & Tech.

Rep. ED, NRCRI

Participants

Guest Speaker

3rd EDITION :ARCADE HOTEL ABUJA, 25TH AUGUST, 2011

TOPIC: The CPC Perception about Genetically Enhanced

Foods

Guest Speaker, Mrs. Ify Umeyi, DG/CEO, CPC

Participants

Prof. Magaji, Rep. ES, ARCN

Russ Nicely, USDA Rep.

ES, ARCN, Rep. Hon. Minister of Agric

Pualing Sharon, UASID Rep.

DG/CEO, RMRDC, Rep. Hon. Minister of Science & Tech.

Visit Cowpea Field Trial DG/CEO, RMRDC

Delibration

Participants

5th EDITION :ABU/IAR, ZARIA, 29TH

SEPTEMBER, 2011

TOPIC: Field Evaluation of Transgenic Cowpea: Opportunities and Challenges.

6th Edition :Gombe Jewel Hotel, Abuja, 24th November, 2011

Topic: Harnessing the Potential of Agricultural Biotechnology for Food Security and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria.

Special Poster OFAB Session

Poster Prensentations

7TH EDITION :CHIEF OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, 27TH DECEMBER, 2011

Special OFAB held at Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Residence

Stakeholders delibrating with the formal President, Chief Obasanjo

March Edition Gombe Jewel Hotel, Abuja, 29th

March, 2012

Topic: The Potentials of Bt-Cotton in

Revamping the Textile Industry.

Guest Speaker: Prof. Echekwu

Chairman, Senate Committee on Agric.

Prof. Magaji, Rep. ES, ARCN

Hon. Minister of State for Agric

Chairman, House Committee on Agric DG/CEO, NABDA

Guest Speaker, Prof. Echekwu

Exhibition of Cotton Product

MAY 2012 EDITION Topic: Biotechnology for Improved Soybean

Production in Nigeria Guest Speaker: Prof. Chiezey, IAR Zaria

The Representative of the Hon. Minister of Environment

The Representative of the Hon. Minister of State , Trade and Investment

The Guest Speaker, Prof. U.F. Chiezey, IAR, Zaria

Prof. B.O. Solomon, DG/CEO, NABDA

Dr. Frances Chukwukere The Representative of the Executive Secretary, NUC, Abuja

Mr Dede, The Representative of the DG/CEO, NOTAP, Abuja

OFAB NIGERIA RECEIVES AWARD

OFAB Nigeria Coordinator receiving an Award in honour of NABDA’s performance from the Minister of Science & Technology Ghana, Mrs Ayeti, while the ED, AATF

looks on…

OFAB NIGERIA COORDINATOR RECEIVING OFAB AWARD FOR HERSELF FROM MS RIN OF BILLGATES FOUNDATION

JUNE 2012 EDITION Topic: “Biotechnology for Improved Cocoa

Production in Nigeria” Guest Speaker: Dr. (Mrs) F. A. Okelana

Ag. Executive Director-Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN)

OFAB AFRICA GROUP PHOTOGRAPH

The House Committee chairman on science and technology- Honourable Abiodun Akinlade granting a press interview

L-R Commissioner for Agriculture, Bimbo Kolade, Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo second to the left DG/CEO NABDA and Senator Ayoade Ademola Adeseun

Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo

Senator Ayoade Ademola Adeseun

Cross section of Famers The DG/ CEO Prof. B.O. Solomon of NABDA granting a press interview

USDA Rep. Mercela A.

Group Photograph

JULY 2012 EDITION Topic: “Integrating biotechnology and

conventional approaches towards improving cassava production in

Nigeria” Guest Speaker: Dr. Chiedozie Egesi

Assistant Director (Biotechnology) and Product Development Manager BioCassava Plus

National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

Cross section of the high table

Guest Speaker Exhibition stand of Cassava Products

Special OFAB Session for the Seed Sub-Subsector, 6th August 2012

Aim:to sensitize and enlighten stakeholders in the Seed

Industry of the Agricultural Sector on the eminent adoption of biotechnology and the use of genetically enhanced seeds and seedlings to increase agricultural productivity in the country

AUGUST EDITION OF OFAB NORTH CENTRAL ZONAL HOSTING

AT BENUE STATE, 6th September 2012

Two Topics were covered in Benue

– The Role of Biotechnology In Improving Yam for

Income and Food Security In Nigeria- Dr. Joe Onyeka,

NRCRI, Umudike

– Improving Soybean Productivity Using

Biotechnology Approach In Nigeria-Dr Ishaq Mohammed,

NCRI, Baddegi

GM Maize and Non GM

Biotech Study Tour to US

Conclusion

OFAB Nigeria Chapter has grown beyond ordinary monthly forum on agricultural biotechnology awareness, but also provides link and platform under which the Local farmers come face to face with the State government to exchange views and ideas, discuss challenges they encounter and try to proffer solution on how to move forward in agriculture in the country.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION