Lagos State government has called the attention of stakeholders, policy makers to the benefits and threats of synthetic biology and emerging biotechnologies.

Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on Monday, at the ninth African Conference on One Health and Biosecurity, alongside
esteemed partners from the Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment (GET) Consortium, said the yearly conference, a testament to a commitment spanning nine years, was born from the exigencies of the 2014 and 2015 Ebola outbreak.

Abayomi said recognising the interconnectedness of health across African mega-cities, Lagos State has been at the forefront, steering this pivotal gathering to foster awareness and address trends in biosafety and biosecurity across the region.

He said this year’s focus zeroes in on the intricate realm of synthetic biology— a rapidly evolving field with transformative potential.

Abayomi emphasised the dual nature of synthetic biology and other
emerging biotechnologies, showcasing both its promising benefits for
humanity and its potential for misuse, underscoring the need for heightened awareness and regulation.

In his words: “We are here today, at the ninth African Conference on One Health and Biosecurity which the Ministry of Health is organising in partnership with the Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment (GET) Consortium. We have this conference every year. We have had it for the last nine years, triggered by the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and 2015, and we found it necessary to keep the culture of having this annual conference, to bring awareness on the trends around biosafety and biosecurity to the people of Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa and Africa as a whole.

“Lagos State has been driving this annual event because, as a mega city on the continent of Africa, we recognize that it’s our responsibility not only to protect the citizens of this great center of excellence, but also we cannot protect ourselves in isolation, and that if other mega cities around West Africa and Africa fall in prey to biological shocks, it will inevitably affect us also in Lagos.”

“So Lagos is teaming up with the Get Consortium, which is a think
tank based in Africa. Its function is to prepare Africans for biological
shocks, and this collaboration has been very fruitful for the past nine
years.

“The thematic subject matter of this ninth African Conference on One
Health and Biosecurity, ‘Maximizing Benefits and Understanding Risks of
Synthetic Biology and Other Emerging Biotechnologies in Africa is very
interesting especially at this critical time. Synthetic biology is a
very complex field. It is a very dramatic and rapidly evolving
scientific field where scientists now have the ability to change and
alter the genetic code of any living organism and, in fact, to have the
ability to create new life forms.

“Now, synthetic biology has huge potential for the future of
humanity. But like all great inventions, there is also the possibility
of using it for great harm in a phenomenon called dual purpose and so
today, we are bringing the awareness of what synthetic biology is to
Lagos, to Nigeria, and to Africans and everybody around the world that
is engaged in biosecurity and creating the opportunity for us as
government to understand the subject matter but also to trigger our
scientists and our community to be more aware of what the products of
synthetic biology are what the benefits could be and the threats
synthetic biology can pose to us as African.”

Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Mrs. Kemi Ogunyemi,
emphasised the significance of this initiative in fortifying safety and
security for every citizen. She underscored the imperative role of
informed decisions for policy-making, advocating for collaborative
efforts to safeguard the populace.

Chief Operating Officer of GET Consortium, Dr. Ayodotun Bobadoye,
highlighted the pressing need to confront emerging biosecurity threats,
citing recent occurrences of diseases like Lassa fever, COVID-19, and
Ebola. Bobadoye said the conference aims to explore the prospects of
biotechnologies like synthetic biology and gene editing while navigating
the associated risks and devising strategic guidelines for Nigeria’s
prudent engagement in these domains.

Director of Communications Lagos State Ministry of Health, Tunbosun
Ogunbanwo, said Lagos State, renowned for its proactive measures,
remains committed to bolstering its preparedness to counter biosecurity
threats, leveraging initiatives like this conference to augment
awareness and capacity building.

He said, as the conference unfolds, stakeholders, policymakers, and
experts converge to deliberate on shaping a safer, more secure future in
the face of ever-evolving biosecurity challenges.