The Director General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, on Tuesday hosted the Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yingqi, and the Deputy Director of its Economic and Commercial Section, Cai Xinfa, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The visit was centred on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China in biotechnology, with emphasis on agriculture, healthcare, and scientific research. Discussions highlighted the importance of joint initiatives to drive development in these sectors.
Prof. Mustapha underscored the crucial role of biotechnology in solving Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges, particularly food insecurity and limited access to healthcare. He detailed the agency’s research breakthroughs and ongoing initiatives designed to support sustainable national development, noting the significant market potential of these advancements.
The Director General also referred to the agency’s recent Memorandum of Agreement with Shanghai Haiqi Ltd to establish Nigeria’s first insulin manufacturing facility, describing it as a breakthrough for the health sector. According to him, the initiative will save lives while reducing the country’s reliance on expensive imports. “This is just the beginning. We are eager to deepen cooperation with China in agriculture and other key areas,” he stated.
Minister Counsellor Wang Yingqi praised the agency’s achievements in applying biotechnology to national development. He described the insulin agreement as “a good beginning for our operations” and assured that he would facilitate connections between NBRDA and top Chinese research institutions and companies to broaden areas of collaboration.
Deputy Director Cai Xinfa stressed the need for joint research projects between NBRDA and Chinese institutions. He further pointed out the importance of upgrading NBRDA laboratories to boost research capacity, innovation, and productivity.
The visit reaffirmed Nigeria-China relations in science and technology, with both sides agreeing that stronger cooperation in biotechnology will advance food security, improve healthcare, and foster economic growth.
