FIIRO tasks scientists, engineers on developing useful local technologies
By Funmilola Gboteku
The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) has tasked Nigerian scientists, engineers and technicians on developing useful local technologies to stem challenges ravaging Nigeria.
The Director-General of FIIRO, Dr Jummai Tutuwa, said this during a courtesy by executives of the Nigerian Association of Technologist in Engineering (NATE) to her office in Oshodi, Lagos, on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the courtesy visit was to appreciate FIIRO for its continuous partnership with NATE on several projects.
Tutuwa said that it was imperative to adopt local technology for the growth of the industry in Nigeria.
She added that this involved critical thinking, problem solving, creative and collaborative skills of associations like NATE.
According to her, critical analysis over the years has shown that a nation that depends on importation for every need is bound to be in slavery economically.
Tutuwa said this was why the present government was more focused on local content than importation and keen on ensuring food security through local technologies.
She noted that this would help develop, grow, and sustain the economy of Nigeria.
“Nigeria cannot achieve much if it relies on other countries for its needs.
“I, therefore, challenge Nigerian scientists, engineers, technicians to rise to the call by developing appropriate and useful local technologies to stem challenges ravaging Nigeria and other African countries.
“I also enjoin NATE to continue its good work, because of its importance to national development,” she said.
Speaking on FIIRO’s partnership with NATE, Tutuwa said it was in line with the framework on local content policy of the Federal Government.
In his remarks, Mr Kayode Ibidapo, Chairman, NATE, Lagos branch, commended FIIRO for its unwavering support to the association, at the national and state level.
Ibidapo said that the association had been getting support from FIIRO as far back as 2010.
He noted that since the core mandate of FIIRO had to do with utilising local materials to produce machines, NATE had collaborated with the institute to make several indigenous innovations.
“We have collaborated with FIIRO to make rice destoning machines, incubators, castor oil dehusking machines, coconut deshelling machines, and of recent, we made a tigernut processing machine.
“The latest innovation by NATE is the butter making machine. At the moment we are also working on President Tinubu’s project, which is the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), in collaboration with FIIRO,” Ibidapo said.
Edited by Folasade Adeniran
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