Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh (SAN), has praised the management of Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu State, under Dr Peter Ogbobe, for “restoring the institute’s research and creative ingenuity”.

Udeh, who came on a tour of the institute, commended the Ogbobe led management for transforming the institute from “petition writers to research writers”, stressing that the federal government was eager to see it’s outputs contribute to the growth of the nation’s Gross Domestic Products.

‘You have relegated their militancy to the background and brought out their energy to do the work. You have converted their petition writing to research writings. That is very good because, there’s a level of progress and change being witnessed in this Institute”, the Minister said

He told management and staff of the Institute that all the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that could facilitate the commercialisation of its research outputs are receiving attention, promising to do his best to ensure the total restoration of PRODA to its original mandate.

“We want to move the PRODA from what it is into being a hub for market ready products to contribute to the GDP of Nigeria.We are not yet there. We need the support of everyone. Once PRODA is growing, all of us will grow. President Bola Tinubu’s mandate about this Institute is very clear. It is part of his renewed hope agenda which we have keyed into. Now that we have restored the research ingenuity, the next thing is to ensure that we commercialise our outputs. I assure you that this is receiving attention”, he stated.

Udeh stated that the launch of the Energise commercialisation initiative last month was aimed at transforming innovative ideas into market ready products and services, stressing that it was part of government’s commitment to unlocking the nation’s innovation potentials and driving economic growth through research and development.

He assured that the programme would be replicated in other zones of the country, urging the staff of PRODA to join hands to help government realise it’s vision in the sector

“The renewed hope agenda is not a cliche, it is a reality. We are marching to reform Nigeria.The assurance I would give is that I will do my best to ensure that you get what is due to you. We will work together’, he assured.

Ogbobe earlier told the Minister that the Minister that the Institute had continued to drive applies research, engineering development, fabrication, and technology transfer aimed at promoting indigenous industrial growth and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises across the country.

He said PRODA had successfully developed and commercialised several agro processing machines, renewable energy technologies, lithium -ion battery initiatives, and other Indigenous innovations tailored towards solving local problems and advancing national development.

PRODA, he added was strategically positioned to contribute to Nigeria’s industrialisation, noting however, that there was need for sustained funding, modernisation of infrastructure, manpower development, commercialisation of research outputs, and passage of the new PRODA establishment bill currently awaiting Presidential assent .

Ogbobe added that as part of efforts to encourage Commercialisation and domestication of its research, liaison offices are being developed across the six regions of the country.

Also, the three Workers’ union in the Institute, expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment shown by the Ogbobe leadership that has transformed to peace and improved productivity at the Institute and urged the Minister to continue to support him.