Fidelis David in Akure
In line with ongoing public service reform, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, yesterday inaugurated the South West Zonal Office of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), in Akure, Ondo State.
The Minister said, FIIRO, a parastatal under the agency of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, has become a beacon of innovation, driving market-driven research and development (R&D) initiatives that have yielded numerous products ready for commercialisation, thus, contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth and industrial development.
Nnaji, who was represented by his Technical Adviser on Strategy and Programmes, Prof Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, said the ministry’s Programmes was in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which was a commitment to unleashing the country’s full economic potential by focusing on job creation, access to capital for small and large businesses, inclusiveness, the rule of law, and the fight against hunger, poverty and corruption.
His words: “This feat is a testament to our resolve to provide our workforce with a modern work environment that would boost their morale for improved productivity, enhanced capacity for problem-solving and international competitiveness.
“Our gathering today underscores our firm conviction in the pivotal role of science and technology in driving socio-economic progress in the 21st century.
“It is a fundamental truth that no nation can achieve meaningful development without harnessing the power of innovation and technology.
“As such, we remain resolute in our commitment to leveraging indigenous resources and expertise to drive technological advancement and sustainable development across all sectors of the economy.
“It is this realisation and motivation to apply the S&T apparatus in our daily developmental life that is spurring FIIRO to do everything within the ambit of the law to take socio-economic activities to the grass root for job and wealth creation, which in turn helps curtail the issue of insecurity in the country.”
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology realised the role of innovation in the Industrial Revolution and, therefore, developed many policies and programmes critical to the sector’s advancement.
He said these policies include, “the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap (NSTIR) 2017-2030; National Strategy for Competitiveness in Raw Materials and Products Development in Nigeria; Presidential Executive Order No. 5 for Planning and Execution of Projects; Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts, Science, Engineering and Technology (2018); National Leather and Leather Products Policy (2018); Revised 2022 National Science, Technology and Innovation (NSTI); National Policy on Welding and Welding Related Fields; and also work has reached advanced stage in the development and promotion of a Policy on Nano-technology.”
Earlier, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer, FIIRO, Dr. Jummai Adamu, said the edifice would improve scientific innovation in the South West region and the nation at large, stressing that plans had been concluded to inaugurate similar Zonal Offices of the Institute in Enugu, and Yola, respectively.
“Since the inception of the Agency in 1953, we are vigorously pursuing our vision and mission statements which are “to be the foremost Centre for Science and Technology-based Research and Development for the industrialisation and socio-economic advancement of the nation and conduct and promote market-driven research and development (R&D) for the industrialisation and socio-economic development of the country”, respectively.
“It is noteworthy of mention that we have developed over 250 products, goods and services through the efforts of the dedicated and diligent Staff of the Institute in the last few years,” he added.
