The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora has described the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi Lagos (FIIRO) as a great asset to the nation.
Adeleke stated this on Friday during his familiarization tour of FIIRO, one of the Agencies of the Ministry.
The Minister said that FIIRO as the first indigenous Research Institute in the country has produced various research outputs that have strengthened the Science, Technology and Innovation Sector in the country.
He enumerated some of the products as motor, processed and bottled palm wine, cassava bread, fish feeds, ceramics products, textiles design products, pepper grinding machines and other related machines for small and medium enterprises as well as entrepreneurship training on transfer technology among others.
Dr Adeleke stressed that FIIRO, despite challenges of inadequate funding and exorbitant cost of materials has been able to research, produce the items and trained the youths who are now self-employed.
The Minister further said that FIIRO can be improved on its internally generated Revenue (IGR) and that of the country through collaboration and commercialization of its research and innovation products, adding that science, technology, innovation and commitment to the public interest are inevitable routes to Nigeria’s greatness.
According to the Minister, FIIRO is a great asset to the socio-economic development and growth of the nation and enjoined the management and workers to continue with their teamwork in order to improve and sustain the success already achieved.
Adeleke, however, assured that Federal Government will ensure that the commercialization of research products and funding of FIIRO to encourage its laudable achievements towards diversification and a sustainable economy is inevitable.
Earlier, the Director-General/ Chief Executive Officer of FIIRO, Dr. (Mrs) Jummai Adamu Tutuwa said that FIIRO has contributed immensely to research and development (R and D) which is targeted to the industrialization and growth of the country.
Dr Jummai revealed that majority of the R and D products have been patented and ready for commercialization, noting that it will enhance revenue generation and the sustainable economy of the organization and the nation in general.
She lamented that inadequate funding is hindering the timely research and progress of the institute and then appealed to the Minister to intervene by increasing the budgetary allocation to the organization.
