University of Port Harcourt Prepares to Host West African BioGenome Project 2025 Workshop

The African BioGenome Project, an affiliate of the Earth BioGenome Project, is a Pan-African initiative aimed at sequencing 100,000 non-human and non-prokaryotic species of African biodiversity within ten years. Achieving this ambitious objective remains crucial, making it imperative for the AfricaBP team to diligently pursue the goal of nurturing professionals across the African continent who will contribute to this agricultural and biodiversity conservation digital sequencing target.

The capacity-building program is conducted through workshops and fellowship programs, which are offered at no cost to beneficiaries. The AfricaBP team envisions that these workshops will equip locally based Africans with the necessary skills to sequence endemic and endangered African species on African soil. The workshops are held annually in each of Africa’s regions, beginning in 2023, except in Central Africa, which currently co-hosts with East Africa.

Since the inception of the AfricaBP regional workshop series, the University of Port Harcourt has consistently taken the lead in hosting the workshops. For this reason, members of the African BioGenome Project, representing the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the West African 2025 regional workshop, paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (R&D), Prof. Iyeopu Siminialayi, and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Abraham Georgewill, to update the University of Port Harcourt Management and expedite preparations for a successful workshop.

The LOC, led by the West African Regional Node Coordinator, Prof. Julian Osuji, includes:

  • Prof. Mary Paschal Iwundu (Director, Information and Communication Technology Centre, Uniport)
  • Dr. Blessing Odogwu (Assistant Director, Regional Centre for Biotechnology and Bioresources Research)
  • Dr. Genevive Osuji (Clinical and Eco-Linguist, Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies, University of Calabar)
  • Engr. Chigozie Nwankwo (National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, South-South Zonal Centre of Excellence, University of Port Harcourt)

The West African BioGenome Project 2025 Workshop with theme “Biodiversity Genomics and One Health: Biodiversity Genomics and Livelihood Sustainability in West Africa” aims to establish and connect scientists and institutions that are role players in the African BioGenomee Project (AfricaBP) initiative, create awareness and galvanize institutions and researchers at the regional level to drive the vision and objectives of AfricaBP.