Nigeria may no longer import technologies for processing food, as the country’s pioneer industrial research agency, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, FIIRO, has developed over 250 different food processing machines for all kinds of foods produced in the country.
The agency’s Director-General, Dr. Gloria Elemo, made this known while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, who paid an oversight visit to FIIRO, in Lagos.
Dr. Elemo, who noted that if well-utilised, the food processing technologies would lead to the creation of over 5 million jobs annually, said the major challenge facing the agency is how to publicize the facilities for Nigerians to start using them.
She told the legislators, “The institute is fully with you in your campaign of using the instrument of science and technology to drive the national economy being propelled by the federal government’s Change Agenda through economic diversification strategy and programs in the wake of dwindling oil revenue and economic recession.
” May I inform you that the institute has developed over two hundred and fifty technologies in its sixty one years of existence and these technologies can be deployed in the 774 local government areas of the country for massive 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 5 million jobs annually through direct and multiplier effects. This will ensure economic independence through drastic reduction in imported goods thereby saving foreign exchange”.
According to Dr. Elemo, “FIIRO intends to strengthen its collaboration with indigenous fabricators and professional engineering bodies so that very soon over 80% of machinery and equipment requirement of the Micro, small and Medium scale enterprises operations will be met by indigenous fabricators in Nigeria. This will not only stimulate the growth of the national economy but will lead to conservation of foreign exchange due to anticipated reduction in volume of imported machinery and equipment especially from China, India, and Malaysia”.
Dr. Elemo called for more support from the federal government to upgrade the agency’s molecular laboratory into world class to enable the facility to develop more enzymes and save the country the huge foreign exchange, spent annually importing the organic chemicals used in baking, in brewery and other venyures.
Responding, the Chairman of the committee, Mrs. Beni Lar , congratulated FIIRO for its strides, assuring that government would continue to give priority to critical agencies including FIIRO while making budgetary allocations.
Mrs. Lar also said, “On a positive note, the committee wishes to use this opportunity to express its appreciation of the impressive outing of FIIRO during the last Ministry of Science and Technology Expo. It showcased FIIRO’s preeminent position on Research and Development”. In the words of Mrs. Lar, “The oversight visit will help the committee to appreciate, study and analyze the needs of FIIRO as it prepares for the next round of budgetary outlay for the ministry and its agencies. This is in line with the Legislative Agenda of the 8th Assembly. The House of Reps more than ever is determined to pursue an aggressive oversight activity that is geared towards responsible and accountable management of funds.
The lawmaker promised that the lower chamber would ensure speedy passage of the bill meant for the statutory establishment of FIIRO, describing it as long overdue for an agency that is 61 years old.
