The Nigerian Society for Toxicological Science has been charged to ensure the safety of Nigerian exportable food products
and natural drugs so as to make them competitive, sustainable and meet the requirements of international standard.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, gave the charge when the Executive of the society, led by its President, Prof. Uche Osunkwo paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Monday 17th September, in Abuja.
Dr. Onu said the Nigeria needed the vital human capital of the society so as to convert Nigerian her resources into products and services for the good of the country.
According to the Minister, Nigerian food products with export potentials can only be sustainable and competitive when they meet international standards, adding that the society should be prepared to assist in ensuring the safety of these products
Dr Onu also implored the society to lend its help in the area of environmental protection of the nation’s vital herbal resources.
He decried the situation in which Nigeria continues to import drugs rather than process our natural herbs into drugs for local consumption as well for export.
The Ministry, he added will continue to ensure only useful beneficial products are imported into the country so as to reduce the cost of health care delivery.
Dr. Onu urged the society to take advantage of the Executive Order 5 to advance the professional interests of the society.
Earlier, the President of the Society, Prof. Uche Osunkwo, briefed the Minister him about different areas of toxicological challenges to the Nigerian community like atmospheric, tobacco, oil and gas pollution, food toxicology, lead and other heavy metals toxicology. Other challenges, like drugs and traditional medicines were also identified.
He stressed the importance of implementing toxicological studies for products so that Nigerians can produce beneficial food products of international standard.
The Society also invites the Minister to declare open its fourth-coming Conference scheduled to commence on Tuesday 25th September, 2018. Nigerians toxicologists, Chemists, Pharmacologists from all over the country will be making presentation at the conference.