On Tuesday in Abuja, the federal government inaugurated the National Bioethics Committee(NBC) to safeguard the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of citizens.

The rationale for establishing the bioethics committee is hinged on the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and human rights.

Adeleke Mamora, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, said science and technology now included arts, education, and social sciences in all nexus that required ancient use of the sector for its development.

Mr Mamora said capacities on ethical aspects in both human and environmental aspects became necessary to ensure the building of ethical grounds for policies for the smooth running of society.

“It is therefore important to note that no matter the level of development of a country, there is a need to establish the NBC and strengthen it to deliver informed, acceptable and adaptable policies,’’ he said.

The minister added that the committee would advise the government, parliaments and other governmental bodies on bioethical challenges and issues raised by the progress in healthcare, biology, and biomedical sciences, among others.

Abdullahi Mustapha, the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) director-general, said the quest to establish the NBC began 14 years ago.

He said this was when the first bioethics stakeholders meeting was organised in collaboration with UNESCO in Abuja at the expression of the government.

Mr Mustapha said the objective of the meeting was for UNESCO to provide the government with the required information for establishing the NBC.

“In May 2022, the National Bioethics Framework and Policy Documents were approved by the Federal Executive Council with the directive that NABDA should commence the implementation of the policy, hence the establishment of the NBC,” Mr Mustapha explained.

He added, “Prior to the approval of the policy documents by FEC, Nigeria has been a member state of UNESCO since 1960 and a signatory to the 2005 UNESCO Declaration on Bioethics and human rights.”

Mr Mustapha explained that Nigeria was experiencing numerous moral problems, which became imperative to establish ethical standards to guide policy decision-making towards attaining the SDGs.

He said the bioethics committee would promote ethical values of discipline, integrity, the dignity of labour, social justice, religious tolerance, self-reliance, patriotism, good clinical and ethical research practices.

(NAN)