IPAN wants more investment in lab analysis to ensure food safety

In the quest to groom quality public analysts and regulate health products, foods and other consumables, the Institute of Public analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) has called on the government, stakeholders and the whole society to support, synergize and take advantage of its potentials.

Speaking in Lagos, at the 25th training workshop of IPAN, title: “The role of public analysts in a recessed economy”, the acting registrar of the institute, Duro Abdusalam, said: “The prevalence of strange diseases and resistance of some of these diseases to drugs are consequence of neglect, saying they are preventable if we take analysis serious.”

He added, “It is the IPAN way of contributing its quota to the growth and development of the country, Nigeria through way of investing in human capital, disseminating information and inviting the society to maximize the benefit of analysis”. Abdulsalam urged government on the need to invest hugely in laboratory analysis in order to ensuring the entire population of Nigeria ould be saved.

He said Nigeria has no business with recession. “Our future is guaranteed if we take our destiny in our hands. The era of crude oil serving as economic cash cow is receding and may be oblivious. Agriculture and solid minerals have been identified as export substitutes. Fortunately, Nigeria has both in abundance. All she requires is to develop and make them economic mainstay. And I am sure with the current efforts by the government at all levels and individual, it’s just a matter of time before they take their rightful place,” Abdulsalam said.

He added, for Nigeria to improve her economy; wriggle out of recession and banish it, to build industry, to ensure safety and quality lives, her charity must begin at home. “Lets embrace, vote for, spend on, invest in and rely on laboratory analysis.”

The IPAN boss said the cost of circumventing laboratory analysis is dear to pay – loss of revenue, bad image among comity of nations, further impoverishment and loss of jobs as well as denial of golden opportunities for growth and development of science, technology etc.

He commended the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, efforts on portable water to homes, and quality and safety by his administration.“I make it bold to say that no means of guaranteeing this and no one else can certify the wholesomeness of potable water but the public analyst. It is not only about water, even all of us here run the risk of slow death through poisoning from unwholesome food, water, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemical, chemically or biologically-based consumer products,” he said.

Keynote speaker and President, Association of Forensic Scientist and Expert Witness, Nigeria, Abiodun Osiyemi, said: “In other to be resourceful and make reasonable impact in the Nigerian economy during this period of recession, we must have vision and change our mindset bearing in mind that this is an era of global competition where only he best survives. For a public analyst to strive in this economy, he or she must think like a leader.”