Front row, third from right: Chief Ebitimi Banigo, Minister of Science and Technology; third from left: Mrs. Pauline Tallen, Minister of State for Science and Technology; with participants and other distinguished guests.
Testionials: West Africa

"West Africa is far behind other sub-regions in the knowledge, conceptualization, and implementation of biodiversity, biotechnology, and legislative matters. There is therefore an urgent need at the national and sub-regional levels for policy- and decision-makers to expand awareness and ensure commitment and implementation."

— Johnson Ekpere, former Executive Secretary, Organization of
African Unity. Participant in GBDI's Ibadan (Nigeria) training course, March 2000.

"The training course was very good and targeted burning issues in biodiversity, biotechnology, and law. Resource persons were highly qualified and gave good lectures."
— Jean-Marie Fondoun, Cameroon. Participant in GBDI's Ibadan (Nigeria) training course, May 2001

"The wealth of useful information will serve as a valuable resource guide for future activities, both theoretically and practically. In addition to the detailed, diverse array of useful and contemporary concepts, issues, facts and opinions, the interactions with professionals from Africa, Europe, South America, and the United States created a uniquely global and interactive academic environment. This [training] could quite easily be developed into a graduate or postgraduate course and would be among the more significant courses available today."

— Eleanor Nunn, Biotechnologist, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Participant in GBDI's Ibadan (Nigeria) training course, March 2000

"The program is so rewarding. It is full of information. The resource people are well seasoned and knowledgeable in their areas. Initially I thought I might not follow the law aspect, which is far from my profession... By the end of the module, law was an area I loved the most."

>— Nkechi Enwerem, Scientist, Nigeria. Participant in GBDI's
Ibadan (Nigeria) training course, March 2000

"The course was well organized. Its objective is broad, its scope is wide and penetrating, and its contents rich and in depth. The selection of the resource persons is noteworthy. They are experts in their own fields and their delivery is excellent. [The workshop] exposed our weakness and lack of capacity to tackle these issues... In order to survive, a collective and regional approach must be pursued."

— Bonto Faburay, Deputy Attorney General, Gambia. Participant in GBDI's Ibadan (Nigeria) training course, March 2000.

"[The course] serves as a most timely and useful contribution to the Capacity-building efforts of the countries represented. The course was well structured to cover the salient issues. The resource persons were well selected in terms of their professional backgrounds, countries, and interest in promoting knowledge in these issues."

— Dr. Sama Monde, Scientist, Sierra Leone. Participant in GBDI's
Ibadan (Nigeria) training course, March 2000.

"The training course was very well organized. The various speakers were experienced international scholars and practitioners who imparted knowledge very well. The topics in the four modules were appropriately chosen and segmented in presentation. The integration of biodiversity biotechnology and law into a single course was very innovative and highly commendable."

— J.A. Ekpere, Nigeria. Participant in GBDI's Ibadan (Nigeria) training course, March 2000.

"The GBDI course] should be taught to everyone in agriculture in Africa, including policymakers, farmers and consumer groups. Many people in Africa are not aware that it [GBDI Course] exists and trainees of this course can be used to publicize the course in their countries. We should find a way of incorporating it in the curriculum in the Department of crop Science at Universities in Africa."

— Sarah Olembo, Ph.D., plant pathologist, Interafrican Phytosanitary co-council/OAU, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Participant in GBDI's Cotonou (Benin) training course, May 2001.

"The training course was very helpful and informative. It clearly appeared during the course that West African countries have a common need for clear legislation in biodiversity use in order to protect our principal richness and to acquire consistent benefit for our development. The high quality of the lectures and the good choice of examples reinforced my experience and opened new fields for me."

— Dr. Konate Souleymane, Professor, Côte d'Ivoire. Participant in GBDI's Cotonou (Benin) training course, May 2001.