US embassy cable - 04ABUJA1836

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001836 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR PA/OBS/BS GSANTULI, AF/PD ZABRISKIE 
LAGOS FOR PAS, ECON 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, KPAO, SCUL, OIIP, NI, EAID 
SUBJECT: TV COOP PROGRAM STIRS UP SUPPORT FOR AGR0- 
BIOTECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA 
 
REFTEL: (A) STATE 326182, (B) ABUJA 000060 
 
1. Summary: USG-sponsored TV Coop program on agricultural 
biotechnology has elicited positive reactions from 
Nigeria's scientific community and key policy makers, and 
has further strengthened a progressive policy drive to use 
U.S. approaches and technologies to revive Nigeria's ailing 
agriculture as a viable alternative to the country's 
reliance on oil revenues.  "These documentaries contain 
very important information needed for effective execution 
of key aspects of our mandate," the National Biotechnology 
Development Agency" (NABDA) said in a letter to the 
National Television Authority (NTA), which produced and 
aired the 55-minute documentary twice in July and 
September, 2004.  Since airing the program on its network, 
watched by over 60 million viewers, NTA's production team 
leader, Ayo Adewuyi, has been invited twice to high-level 
discussion forums on Food Value Study conducted by Market 
Trends Research International and the House Committee on 
Agriculture to further explore issues raised in the TV Coop 
documentary. NTA's crew had high praise for Julie James, 
the program's Project Production Officer, and the American 
and African scientists interviewed in the program.   End 
Summary. 
 
2. Date: March 13-27, 2004 
Fiscal Year: FY2004 
Quarter: 2 
 
3. Description of activity: In consultation with USAID and 
PAS in Abuja, State facilitated the NTA team's tour of the 
United States March 13-27, 2004, for the production of a TV 
Coop program on biotechnology to promote understanding of 
the USAID-funded Nigeria Agricultural Biotechnology 
Project, in partnership with the International Institute of 
Tropical Agriculture, National Biotechnology Development 
Agency, and leading Nigerian research institutes and 
universities.  The program was aimed at creating better 
understanding of agricultural biotechnology within the 
media, scientific policymakers and the Nigerian 
agricultural community.  The 55-minute documentary was 
completed and premiered on the NTA National Network channel 
on Sunday, July 18, 2004.  The program was also available 
on South Africa-based DSTV (W/Africa spot satellite 
bouquet).  State provided a $10,862.00 grant for the co-op 
project. 
 
4. Justification and objective: The U.S. mission's effort 
on biotechnology was aimed at promoting positive 
impressions and acceptance of biotechnology by the Nigerian 
public, policy makers and scientists.  What public 
information regarding bio-engineered products, or referred 
to in the media as genetically modified organisms, GMOs, is 
available in Nigeria has been reported primarily through 
the optic of the U.S.-European debate over food safety and 
labeling requirements.  The issues of safety of 
bioengineered products for human consumption as well as 
their possible threat to local environmental diversity are 
issues of great concern within Nigeria, and ones that could 
easily retard acceptance of biotechnology by Nigerian 
farmers.  Nigerian journalists who have participated in 
mission programs on biotechnology fear that anti-Western 
elements may latch onto biotechnology much the same as they 
have the controversy surrounding polio, and unnecessarily 
raise people's fears about Western influence and motives. 
Nigerian audiences, based on their comparatively lower 
educational levels than in the U.S., are less conversant in 
scientific matters in general, let alone biotechnology.  A 
sound public information approach before bioengineer 
products are introduced or tested in Nigeria is imperative 
to stave off anti- biotechnology opinion. 
 
5. MPP umbrella themes: Economics and Trade. 
 
6. Result/impact: Excellent and supportive.  The coop 
program addressed the regulatory framework that exists in 
the United States to support public confidence in 
biotechnology acceptance.  The program's impact in support 
of the USAID-funded Nigerian Agriculture Biotechnology 
Project has energized the Nigerian scientific community, 
and won support from the political leadership for an 
aggressive policy drive and public acknowledgement of 
biotechnology benefits.  Nigeria's Minister of State for 
Agriculture, Bamidele Dada, re-echoed support for 
agricultural biotechnology on October 19, 2004.  He 
announced that, "Nigeria and other African countries will 
incorporate modern biotechnology as part of the overall 
strategy to increase food production and tackle the current 
food crisis." Chief Dada, a former Assistant Director- 
General of FAO, has become a key supporter of 
biotechnology, and led the GON delegation to the 
Ministerial on Science and Technology hosted jointly by 
USDA, State and USAID in Burkina Faso earlier this year. 
His participation, along with the Chairman of the House 
Science and Technology Committee and Director-General of 
the National Biotechnology Development Agency, and his 
vocal support for biotechnology, had a significant 
influence on other African leaders at the forum. 
 
7. Non-USG sources of support: The Nigerian Television 
Authority (NTA) paid for the International air tickets for 
its three-member crew, post-production costs and broadcast 
air time for the 55-minute documentary. 
 
8. Quality of agency support: Excellent. Once again, 
PA/OBS/BS Project Production Officer, Julie James, received 
high praise for her professional guidance to the NTA. 
 
CAMPBELL 
 
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