FG appoints Varietal release chairman, may register new LCRl wheat

The Federal Government (FG) has approved the appointment of Prof. Olusoji Olufajo as the new chairman, National Committee on Naming, Registration and  Release of crops, livestock and fisheries seeds varieties for commercialization in Nigeria.

This was today disclosed at the end of the 36th Technical Sub Committee meeting on crops chaired by Prof. Olusoji Olufajo at the Ibadan centre of Varietal release and registration by the Acting Director/ Registrar, Dr. Anthony Okere who said the appointment has become very necessary in view of the voluntary resignation of the former chairman, Chief Oladosu Awoyemi on the ground of age coupled the directive of the Director General, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha.

The new chairman would chair the 32th national varietal release meeting slated for Thursday this week as Lake Chad Research Institute ( LCRI) may have been set to register and release some new wheat varieties for bread and pasta to make macaroni and spaghetti.

Also to be commercially released are two white and yellow fallarmy maize varieties from Institute for Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) with four other potato vine varieties from National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike.

Meanwhile, Prof. Ado a member of the technical sub committee on crops has been appointed with greater support for his nominations by the former Registrar, Dr. Sunday Aladele to take the vacant seat left by Prof. Olufajo.

Present at today's meeting is Executive Director (ED), LCRI, Prof. B. G Kabir with the former ED/ National wheat consultant, Dr. Sina Olabanji and other notable scientists.