© UNESCO/Landry Rukingamubiri
Signature of the agreement on Biotechnology (UNESCO-Nigeria)

The International Scientific Advisory Board for the International Institute for Biotechnology, a UNESCO Category II, will be having its inaugural meeting and its scientific session at the University of Nigeria (Nsukka) from 4 to 8 February 2013. A one-day seminar is planned during that session and will be devoted to Biotechnology: Prospects and Challenges for Africa.
The University of Nigeria (Nsukka) is hosting the International Institute for Biotechnology, a UNESCO Category II facility at Nsukka, Nigeria. This Regional Centre is the first Institute of its kind in Africa and the agreement for its establishment was signed by UNESCO and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 15 October 2012. The International Scientific Advisory Board for the Centre will be having its inaugural meeting and scientific session at the University of Nigeria (Nsukka) from 4 to 8 February 2013. As part of the meeting a one day scientific session has been planned for Thursday 7 February 2013. The meetings and scientific session on the 7 February will bring together stakeholders and experts in Biotechnology from the region and beyond who will address critical issues of Food Security and Tropical Disease Research in Africa; these being the principal focal areas of the centre. The theme for the day seminar is: "Biotechnology: Prospects and Challenges for Africa".