FIIRO: Unveiling research results to create more jobs

As science minister opens exhibition

To create jobs and take more people out of the unemployment market, Nigeria must tap into the opportunities of commercialising the products of technological and scientific research.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu said at the opening of the exhibition dome of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Oshodi, Lagos, the institute’s mandate is to help add value to agricultural produce.

The Minister said every effort should be made to commercialise the products of scientific researches of the institute. He emphasised that there must be strong linkage between research findings and the market place to create job opportunities and grow the economy.

Onu asserted that, “ Nigeria would no longer be a mere consumer nation, but we should be able to produce many of the things we need to better the lot of the people.

“For instance, being the largest producer of cassava in the world, FIIRO is researching to produce odourless fufu, which would be very attractive to all Nigerians. It is also working to see how we can use cassava starch and flour to substitute some of the wheat used in bread.”

DG, FIIRO, Dr. Gloria Elemo, said the national economy, just like most national economies all over the world, is currently witnessing some challenges. However, the President Buhari administration has resolved to massively deploy indigenous technologies as a strategy to bail out the nation out of the present economic predicament.

Elemo said: “The institute has developed over 250 technologies in its 60 years of existence and these technologies can be deployed in the 774 local government areas (LGAs), for job creation and economic stimulation through processing and value addition to raw materials of relative advantage in each of the LGA.

“We have developed a blueprint on how this process could create about five million jobs annually through direct and multiplier effect. This will ensure economic independence through drastic reduction of imported goods, thereby saving foreign exchange.”

“We have carried out a comprehensive survey on raw materials of relative abundance in Nigeria and suitable technologies to process them. The result is in a quick reference book titled “Investment Opportunities for Job Creation based on FIIRO Research and Development and available raw materials in the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.”