The Director of the International Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Research (ICEESR), Professor Edu Inam, led a seven-member delegation of the American Chemical Society Nigeria International Chemical Sciences Chapter, which she chairs, on a courtesy visit to Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General/CEO of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA). Prof. Mustapha is a Professor of Bioinorganic Chemistry and serves as Nigeria’s Appointed Governor and Liaison Officer to the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB).
The engagement focused on Nigeria’s evolving biotechnology landscape and on strengthening the links between researchers, research institutions and scientific infrastructure. A key outcome was Prof. Mustapha’s support for the National Scientific and Technical Equipment Database Project, LabEquipment.NG: he approved the onboarding of scientific equipment across NBRDA onto the platform, a significant step towards making Nigeria’s research infrastructure more visible, accessible and connected.
The delegation also discussed the Revised National Biotechnology Policy, one of NBRDA’s key achievements under Prof. Mustapha, which marks a shift from basic laboratory research towards commercialisation and technology transfer. Prof. Mustapha noted that the growing biotechnology ecosystem opens opportunities for researchers across chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, environmental science, materials science and related fields.
For ICEESR, the visit reflects a shared conviction that research thrives on connections between people, ideas, equipment, expertise and institutions. As Professor Inam put it, “Collaboration is how we turn scientific infrastructure into scientific impact.”
