By Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

Government at all levels has been urged to strategically invest in microbial biotechnology to enhance Nigeria’s innovation capacity and reduce environmental impact.

Professor Simiat Jimoh, from the Department of Microbiology at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, made the call while delivering the institution’s maiden inaugural lecture on Wednesday.

She highlighted Nigeria’s overreliance on imported pharmaceuticals, polymers, and other bio-based chemicals, noting that the country has abundant agricultural residues and rich indigenous microbial diversity that could be harnessed for local production.

According to Professor Jimoh, microbial biotechnology has far-reaching implications nationally, continentally, and globally. “When deliberately harnessed and guided by sound scientific design, microbes enable technological progress that is biologically grounded and environmentally responsible, placing them at the center of a sustainable future,” she said.

She added that strategic microbial bioprocessing could convert agro-wastes into products such as bioethanol, diabetic-friendly sweeteners, biosurfactants for detergents and environmental remediation, and biodegradable plastics. These approaches, she said, transform waste into valuable resources, stimulate regional bio-industries, create green employment, strengthen national innovation, and reduce environmental pressures.

Professor Jimoh also noted that Africa’s abundant agricultural residues present an opportunity to build a bioeconomy that is both distinctly African and globally competitive. “These interventions can link farmers to processors and innovators, advance industrial growth, promote environmental stewardship, and support inclusive economic development,” she concluded.