Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train students on modern biotechnology related courses.
The deal was inked at MMUST in Kakamega County by NBA acting Chief Executive officer Dr. Ann Karimi and MMUST Vice-Chancellor Prof. Solomon Shibairo in the presence of NBA director of legal services Moses Sande, Nehemiah Ngetich who is in charge of compliance and enforcement to
Dr. Karimi appreciated the agreement noting that it will go a long way strengthening research and regulating of GMOs in the Country.
“There so much we are doing together, and we look forward for more engagement with higher learning institutions,” said Dr. Karimi.
She added that manpower development is one of the mandates of the Authority and that is why they are reaching out to learning institutions in order to empower them.
Prof. Shibairo appreciated the agreement saying it will go a long way in supporting students at the institution.
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The VC assured Kenyans that GM products are safe as they undergo vigorous testing before release to the market. The University will be leading in training of more manpower and research and help the country to be leader in issues of biosafety.
The programme in which the two institutions agree to collaborate will in particular involve active participation of staff and students of the two institutions in fulfilment of their mandates in the following areas: training and capacity building ,supervision of students and trainees, field/industrial attachment, short-term training, availing internal/external examiners and part-time lecturers, capacity building programs on biosafety and modern biotechnologies, development of training modules on biosafety and biosafety regulatory compliance.
In the area of research and publication; the focus will be on research projects for technology generation, demonstration and transfer, Joint publication, Information sharing through libraries, journals and electronic databases, Sharing of research and training facilities and curriculum development and review on biosafety, biotechnology and emerging technologies
The deal will benefit among other students undertaking Bachelor of Science programmes in Biosafety and Biosecurity which is designed to meet the growing demand for qualified biosafety and biosecurity professionals to support national and global health preparedness and response.
The institution joins a list of various partners among them Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenyatta University and International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) that the Authority is working with as the regulator of Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the Country.
By Juma Ndigo
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