The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) Director General, Dr. Jummai Adamu Tutuwa, has said the agency is guided by the goals and aspirations of the Federal Government of making life meaningful and convenient for Nigerians, despite challenges. She also lists some of the institute’s achievements, Assistant Editor Bola Olajuwon reports
In consonance with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s policy, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) Director-General, Dr. Jummai Adamu Tutuwa, has indicated the institute’s commitment to getting its research products and findings to the Nigerian markets. She revealed during the week that the agency’s commitment was aimed at alleviating the socio-economic state of the citizenry, with focus on the women and youths.
To achieve the desired results, Dr. Tutuwa disclosed that infrastructural requirements of the ventures has been put in place by her team.
The movement of FIIRO’s corporate headquarters to Abuja, she said, would not affect the effective running and management of the institute.
“Research and Development activities have always been ongoing and our Engineering Department has been fabricating as the need arises. It should be noted that having Abuja as FIIRO’s corporate headquarters is the outcome of an infallible legislative process duly appended to by the then president, Muhammadu Buhari. The process and eventual conclusion preceded my tenure.
“As we speak, there is no official objection to the relocation of our corporate headquarters to Abuja, as enshrined in the Act establishing the institute, be it by individuals or organisations.
“While Abuja functions as FIIRO’s corporate headquarters, the institute has been adjudged as the most innovative research institute in Nigeria for the second year running,” Dr. Tutuwa said.
According to her, all specialised, technical and research-oriented departments are still in Lagos office. She added that programmes, events and activities had been ongoing in FIIRO, with proper monitoring and evaluation in line with the mandate of the institute.
She also submitted that the occasional stay outside of Lagos for administrative reasons had enhanced FIIRO’s visibility and participation in developmental processes in Abuja.
On the financial implication of having two offices, she stated: “We have not incurred any extra administrative or running cost due to having Abuja as our headquarters. Traversing Abuja to Lagos is virtually the same as traversing Lagos to Abuja.
“This is not my making as the Director General, but a collective process that passed through the eagle eyes of the Nigeria legislature.”
FIIRO, Dr. Tutuwa explained, is a beehive of research and developments; a reference-point and place for would-be investors.
When she assumed office, she disclosed that the institute was almost on a lock-down due to the aftermath of the internal crisis that spanned over two years.
“Fences have to be mended, reconciliatory meetings were initiated and research findings that were shelved were revisited for the Nigeria market.
“Research activities have never for once had any hiccups since my assumption of office. Laboratories in the institute have been renovated and equipped for optimal usage. Members of staff are making the best use of it as we speak. Departmental projects are ongoing and adequately funded.
“Only recently, an all-encompassing training programme was organised by the management to keep members of the staff abreast of developments in the science and research industry and to boost productivity. Roles of members of staff in the strategic contributions of FIIRO in the ongoing Renewed Hope Agenda were identified. Resource persons came from relevant field of endeavours, even to the Accountant General’s office.
“The ICT Division of FIIRO is presently training members of staff on ICT concerns and how they can be applied to their everyday job. Regular training programmes to empower Nigerians are ongoing. Of recent, religious bodies brought in their members to partake in our training programmes in the premises. The ECOWAS women forum were trained on some of FIIRO’s research products.
“The institute has initiated many working collaboration with sister agencies on the commercialisation of FIIRO research products. Of recent is the visit of the American University of Medicine and Technology to FIIRO, with the view of making FIIRO a study center in Nigeria.
“As identified earlier, FIIRO’s fabrication workshops are very functional. As the centre of excellence in fabrication and headquarters of fabricators in Nigeria, fabricators still visit the institute to perfect their designs and projects.
“Of note is the rapid transformation of FIIRO’s Zonal offices. The Zonal offices of today’s FIIRO are as viable, productive and promising as its Lagos office. They are manned by seasoned scientists and researchers who have made their marks in the R&D industry. A good number of properties on which the Zonal offices are sited are owned by FIIRO, as acquired and built during the tenure of the incumbent director-general. They have been properly furnished and equipped to meet with contemporary times.
“FIIRO’s Southeast Zonal office in Enugu has had a research break through Ethanol production, and cashew wine production. While Northcentral Zonal office, Lantang is on Bio Organic Fertiliser.
“Members of staff with competency in specialised fields are not only in Lagos but all our zonal offices.”
On the agency’s new Cassava Plant, which has been equipped, she said some of FIIRO’s machines were not in good condition since previous administrations.
“As we speak, installation of equipment is ongoing at the plant. FIIRO’s fabrication workshop has always been a beehive and as at the time of the purported visit of a newspaper’s journalist, FIIRO fabricators were in the Akinrele auditorium for the weekly seminar,” she said.
Dr. Tutuwa also spoke on issues concerning engagement of the police and challenge of power.
“At no time in recent times has FIIRO engaged the services of the Nigeria Police. While mindful of the prevailing security concerns, we have always engaged the services of a private security outfit.
“The services of the NSCDC was employed to check the act of pilfering and stealing in the premises (an act for which a senior director was found culpable) and to protect critical infrastructure as this is part of their mandate.
“Also, the challenge of power is not peculiar to FIIRO, especially with the categorisation of consumers by DISCOs. FIIRO falls under the Band A Category and this comes with its attendant cost implications,” she explained.
Dr. Tutuwa added that she inherited unpaid electricity bills running into millions of Naira, which had been paid.
“With the Band A initiative through Eko Electric, a monthly electricity consumption bill of N22 million was given to the institute. FIIRO’s overhead cannot meet up with half of the payment.
“Earlier, steps taken to provide alternative sources of power were consolidated on and these include the administrative block, the first and second floors of the laboratory building and the ICT office. The afore-mentioned have been fully placed on solar and all the buildings on the premises have functional generators with the least of them having a 350 KVA. They are being powered daily to provide power for members of staff. All the zonal offices too have been provided with solar electricity.
“A working electricity committee is meeting with Eko Electric officials on a possible way out. Negotiations are on to come up with a proper and affordable billing system for the institute,” Dr. Tutuwa said.
She insisted that the functionality and manning of the institute’s clinic would not be at variance with the dictates of the Public Service Rules, adding that the agency’s system provides for easy replacement of any member of staff that is retiring without any vacuum created.
