Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, on Wednesday inaugurated the  Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Learning and Forensics Centre located at the main campus of Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI), Enugu.

Speaking at the event, Mr Mbah said that security in the 21st century must be driven by innovation, science and technology to effectively combat crime and ensure sustainable development.

The Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation (CEDFOCI) was established by the Godfrey Okoye University in collaboration with the Enugu State Government.

Mr Mbah described security as the foundation upon which economic growth, investment, education and social progress rest.

He said, “From the day we came into office, we identified security as the biggest elephant in the room.

“We made commitments to eradicate poverty, make Enugu the preferred destination for living, working and investing, and grow our economy, but we knew none of these ambitions would be possible without security.”

Mr Mbah said the DNA centre represented one of the most important investments in the state’s security architecture, strengthening the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate crimes, track criminals and secure convictions through scientific evidence.

“It is not simply about a laboratory; it is about a mindset. The future belongs to those willing to take a quantum leap into future-based thinking,” he said.

The governor warned criminals that advances in forensic science would make it increasingly difficult to evade justice.

“Every criminal leaves a trace, and we can now track that trace and use it as evidence. If you intend to harm our people, prey on our children or threaten our communities, understand that the state now possesses capabilities that did not exist previously.

“This centre strengthens our ability to follow evidence, identify those responsible and support law enforcement agencies with world-class forensic science,” he said.

Mr Mbah urged security agencies, legal practitioners, researchers and educational institutions across the country to utilise the facility for forensic analysis, criminal investigation, scientific research and capacity building.

He also stressed the need for citizens to preserve crime scenes by avoiding contamination of evidence.

In his remarks, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, represented by the Vicar for Priests, Rev. Fr Victor Eze, described the centre as a landmark achievement for both the Godfrey Okoye University and Enugu State.

Mr Onaga said education remained the bedrock of national development and commended the partnership between the university and the state government.

“With the rising insecurity in our nation, collaboration between government and private institutions is necessary to tackle the menace and strengthen the justice system,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director of the DNA Learning Centre Nigeria, George Udeh, described the facility as a symbol of Africa’s capacity to build institutions that meet global standards.

He said the centre would serve as a training ground for future forensic scientists, molecular biologists, geneticists, bioinformaticians, public health experts and innovators.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Christian Anieke, said the establishment of the centre reflected the institution’s commitment to excellence, research and societal development.

Mr Anieke commended the state government for its support and expressed confidence that the facility would contribute significantly to strengthening criminal investigations, justice delivery and security in Nigeria.

The vice-chancellor said the facility would not only support forensic investigations but would also provide services for paternity and maternity testing, helping to resolve family disputes through scientifically verifiable evidence.

Mr Anieke expressed delight that about 98 per cent of the scientists and technical personnel expected to work at the centre were young Nigerian professionals below 40.

The inauguration was attended by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who hailed the establishment of the centre.

They both said that the centre would strengthen criminal investigations, justice delivery and security not only in Enugu State but across the country. 

(NAN)