Establishing National Bioethics Committee: The case of Nigeria

The establishment of a National Bioethics Committee is a requirement for member states of UNESCO who are signatories to the UNESCO 2005 Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. The Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights advocates for an independent, multidisciplinary, and pluralist National Bioethics Committee at the national, regional, local or institutional level. Therefore, the National Bioethics Committee is expected to conform to the guidelines of the Declaration. According to UNESCO’s Assisting Bioethics Committee project document, the National Bioethics Committee is to provide advice on ethical issues member states may encounter in research development, application of scientific knowledge, formulating recommendations regarding guidelines and legislation, develop tools for standard setting, strengthening coordination and contacts among experts and institutions, foster debates, education and public awareness and engagements in bioethics. The National Bioethics Committee is to reinforce the role of UNESCO as an international clearing house for ethical issues, as well as act as an intermediary body for the implementation of the normative instruments adopted by member states. As a member state of UNESCO and a signatory to the 2005 Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, Nigeria is expected to establish a National Bioethics Committee that is independent, multidisciplinary, and pluralist. This paper highlights the several meetings and steps taken to establish the Nigerian National Bioethics Committee, as well as the challenges. Keywords: Bioethics, Committee, Establish, National, Nigeria, UNESCO