The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal Institute of Industrial Research

  • FIIRO unveils solar boiler, fruit washer, mobile-garri processor

    As part of efforts to encourage the growth and development of small and medium scale businesses, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) has unveiled its newly fabricated Innovative Steam Boiler at the 2019 Science, Technology Innovation Expo in Enugu.

    Justifying the introduction of the new product, the Director General of the institute, Prof. Gloria Elemo stated that the innovative steam boiler was primarily designed for process heating in food related industries, saying that it can be used in all major industrial sectors such as food and beverages, pulp and paper products, textile, chemical and other industries.

    “Steam provides heat and pressure for manufacturing processes. FIIRO developed technologies process equipment that uses steam include; drum dryer, pasteurizer, parboiler, palm oil refining plant, ginger oleo-resin, essential oil distillation plant, fruit juice/paste concentrate ethanol processing plant, pulp and paper digester, blanching, sterilisation and other,” Elemo stressed.

    Ealier in his opening remarks, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Science, Technology and innovation is the weapon needed to fight poverty, hunger, sickness and unemployment, as well as to effectively manage sickle cell anemia.

    Onu noted that the Economic Recovery and Growth of 2017–2020 was a major responsibility of the Ministry of Science and Technology, stating that the ministry has over three years driven the nation’s  economic recovery process.

    The Minister said, “We have deployed science and technology in our various natural resources exploration and export to other nations to enable us earn additional foreign exchange and to create more job opportunities for Nigerians, both young and old.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to Federation, Mustapha Boss, noted that the government would ensure the creation of special intervention funds to drive science and technology growth in Nigeria.

    Commending the Ministry, he stated that the government has noticed the contributions of science and technology to national development and job creation.

    He said: “This exhibition showcases that science and technology can be used to solve human problems, and to also contribute to the national development. We will use effective promotion of science and technology to move Nigeria to the next level. The use of science and technology is improving job creation and the national security.

    “We would provide the policy frame works that will fast-track commercialisation all R&D results of the research institutes under the Ministry of Science and Technology.”

  • FIIRO has trained over three million Nigerians, says DG

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) has trained over three million Nigerians since it was established, its Director-General (DG), Prof. Gloria Elemo, has said.

    Elemo said at an exhibition organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi that the institute had also churned out over 500 processed technologies within the same period..

    Elemo, represented by Dr. Chima Igwe, a FIIRO executive, said the industrial fruity washer and pepper grinder were among the institute’s latest innovations, adding that its grinder is different from what is in the market.

    She said:  “What is in the market is pepper grinder with metal robbing of discs for grinding. This one, innovated by FIIRO, has our intellectual property protection on it. It has been launched by the Federal Government.

    “NAFRC is more like a sister. We have done a couple of things in the past and we are still collaborating. They ordered some of the pepper grinder I mentioned earlier and FIIRO has contributed through equipping their kitchen with locally-fabricated wares.

    “The institute has trained over three million Nigerians and 75 per cent of them are in the Southwest, especially the micro, small and medium scale industries.”

    Elemo said FIIRO innovated and sold processed technologies to industries to produce in bulk and sell.

    “Engineering outfits have been evaluated and licensed to produce these equipment. They work with FIRO, we give them our designs. There is always a follow up on our processed technologies.

    “We have a department we call the Planning, Technology, Transfer and Information Management. Under this department, we have officers that follow up and get feedback and need assessment, adoption studies, among others.

    “We monitor not only quality, but also the procedures we have handed over to such people that are adopting our procedures.

    “We are on the right path and making a lot of strides. The Federal Government is making efforts to be sure that our local content is recognised and that’s exactly one of the reasons FIIRO was established.”

    NAFRC Commandant Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Abubakar Liman said the joint exhibition was to foster collaboration between both agencies in the pursuit of national development.

    He urged Nigerians to support the nation’s industrialisation drive by patronising locally-made goods.

    “The essence of this exhibition is to showcase the institutions’ products to the trainees and the public for their awareness and patronage. Our workshops design and produce customised products.

    “Some of the products are simple equipment made by the trainees for use in cottage industries and agro-production. The curriculum is designed to enable the trainees fabricate and maintain the equipment for their use.”

    Liman said plans were on to review the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NAFRC and FIIRO to meet current trends, adding that the centre was awaiting the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) certification to start marketing its products.

  • FIIRO wins multiple awards

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) has bagged two awards in the just -concluded Science and Technology Innovation Week, in Abuja. The Institute came first in patenting of its Research & Development (R&D) result. It patented over 17 of its R&D products in 2017.

    The second award was on research.  FIRRO’s Directorp-General, Prof  Gloria Elemo,  said the award  was in recognition of the Institute’s progress in its bid to turn around the fortunes  of the economy.

    She said: “The outcome was quite encouraging bearing in mind that we did not relent in our efforts towards showcasing some newly developed products, such as the Champ Biscuits and our automated processing lines for Kunu and Zobo drinks.

    “This year’s award will also boost the morale and zeal of our researchers and scientists to work harder to achieve greater results. So it’s always a win-win situation when peoples’ efforts are given due recognition as it will always be a source of motivation to do more.’

    Mrs. Elemo said  FIRRO’s collaboration with the industral sector has  gained momentum, with the unveiling of new products  with NASCO Foods.

    She said FIRRO came tops as the research Institute with the highest number of patents, stating that the institute is poised to do more in the coming years.”

    She said the Institute had played a  significant role in food and nutrition security, being the only research institute in Nigeria with mandate for R&D in food and agro-processing technologies.

    Mrs. Elemo said some of its R&D breakthroughs were capable of handling malnutrition and bring relief to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

  • FIIRO calls for partnership with research institutes, universities

    Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi ( FIIRO ) says Nigeria needs a paradigm shift from a consuming nation to a producing nation through collaborative efforts between research institutes and universities.

    Prof. Gloria Elemo, the Director-General of FIIRO made the call on Thursday while delivering a lecture titled: “Fostering collaboration between research institutes and universities towards commercialising research products’’.

    The event was organised by the Faculty of Science, Adeyinka Adebayo Federal University in Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

    “Nigeria is currently an importing nation rather than being an exporting nation; efforts must be geared toward reversing this situation.

    “In achieving this, no nation has it all; there must be harmonisation of our diverse cultures, professions and personalities through collaboration to improve our economy.

    “A conscious efforts at creating an enabling environment for investing in research at all levels must be encouraged to develop our economy.

    “The development of our small, medium and large-scale businesses is achievable through commercialising our research products,’’ the Director-General said.

    Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Adeyinka Adebayo University, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, said for a nation to develop effectively technologically, research would have to play a vital role.

    Soremekun said he believed that between now and the future, the two institutions – FIIRO and AAU Oye-Ekiti would have a productive relationship aimed at developing the economy.

    The Dean, Faculty of Science of the university, Prof. Olayide Lawal said entrepreneurship was important to transforming the nation from a consumer nation to a producer nation.

    He assured that the energy that the institution intended to create with its collaboration with FIIRO would assist in propelling members of staff and students toward realising its  goals.

    FIIRO director-general signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Adeyinka Adebayo Federal University on research to foster the nation’s economic development.

    NAN

  • FIIRO, NIRSAL, PTDF to enhance agric value chain

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, (FIIRO), Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF)  are collaborating to enhance growth and improve food production.

    FIIRO Director-General Prof Gloria Elemo said the tripartite agreement would utilise indigenous technologies to diversify the  economy, create jobs, improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and impact on the socio-economic wellbeing of citizens.

    According to her, the partnership will fast-track development of the agricultural sector through special focus on commodities that the nation had comparative advantage in producing.

    Elemo said FIIRO will utilise its competency to fabricate and install processing machinery and equipment for micro, small and medium enterprises as well as render technical consultancy services to large scale enterprises in the agric value chain.

    The partnership, she stressed, would focus on the agricultural sector based on its strategic role to drive the nation’s diversification plan.

    NIRSAL Managing Director, Alhaji Aliyu Abdulhameed, also said the agency was well funded by government with over $500 million to finance agric projects and its value chain.

    According to Abudulhameed, the government had empowered NIRSAL to play an active role in tackling and coordinating key issues in agriculture sector to ensure that increased food production and proposed industrialisation agenda become a reality.

    He reiterated NIRSAL’s readiness to adopt FIIRO’s Tomato Catalytic Model Plant already operating in Kano as a model for enhance agricultural value chain in the country.

    NIRSAL’s interventions, he said, would increase producer’s access to credit, boost income and standard of living and assist in the realisation of a stronger post-oil economy.

    PTDF Executive Secretary, Bello Aliyu, said the agency was in the partnership to develop human capacity towards transforming the country into an industrial hub through indigenous technology.

    He said technologies would assist the country stem the tide of post-harvest losses in agricultural commodities and boost activities of farmers and agro-processors.

  • FG tasks diaspora on national development

    The Federal Government has tasked Nigerians in the diaspora on the need to assist the country attain economic and technological development.

    Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, said at the ministry’s Investment Forum in New York, organized for Nigerians, that the diaspora had a lot to contribute to the country.

    “Our visit to New York is to get our people in the Diaspora to think home, just imagine what other nations diaspora have been able to achieve for them.

    “If we look at India, there is no way India would have attained the level of development that it have attained today; India is orbiting Mars.

    “India is a space power, India is a nuclear power. India could never have achieved this level without the contributions of her citizens in the Diaspora; the same way China.

    “So we believe that Nigerians in the diaspora, through NIDO (Nigerians In Diaspora Organization) United States, NIDO Worldwide, should be in a position to help our nation.

    “To move from the position we are today to the position where we can be the truly great nation that nature has destined us to be.

    “And what that means is that we are now, that we’ve come to our Nigerians in the diaspora, to now look at the researches that we have already conducted in the country.

    “These researches, we’ve taken all the risks that you need to take if you were to do it yourself.”

    Onu disclosed that the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) has about 250 products that they have taken up to commercialization level.

    “If we had enough venture capital, there would be people who would come, chasing after these products because that is the easiest way to make money.

    “But we would prefer to hand over this research not even as a partner; you enter into an agreement whereby there would be some fees – the normal license fees.

    “If it is a Nigerian company, we would be very happy to do so because this company will come, establish the facility in Nigeria and be in a position to now hire Nigerians.

    “It will also be in a position to help grow our Gross Domestic Product for the whole country and then you as a Nigerian, you will be making money and you pay more tax to government.”

    Onu said the task of developing Nigeria had now become an urgent one, particularly with science and technology at the livewire of the development.

    He promised to protect the intellectual property so that no other person would come to lay claim to ownership.

    Some diaspora Nigerians commended the ministry and its agencies for their research breakthroughs and called for transparency and removal of bottlenecks in government businesses to aid investment.

     

  • Don calls for enlightenment on consuming unripe fruits

    Dr Ochuko Erukainure, a nutritional biochemist, on Friday appealed to health bodies to enlighten the public on health hazard of consuming unripe fruits widely sold in Lagos markets.

    Erukainure told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the trend could lead to high concentration of anti-nutrients such as tannins, phytate and oxalic acids in consumers.

    He said that research had shown that anti-nutrients could prevent the human body from absorbing nutrients, especially micro-nutrients, leading to their poor utilisation by the human body.

    NAN reports that a check in many markets in Lagos showed large volumes of unripe farm produce like fruits and plantain displayed by traders for sale.

    These fruits, in spite of days of preservation to ripen, often decayed instead of ripening, thereby denying the consumer of the economic and nutritional gains.

    “Mature fruits also contain secondary metabolites produced as a chemical defensive system to drive natural enemies, but they become toxic when immature fruits are consumed, leading to serious health complications.”

    Erukainure said that professional bodies like the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) and the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) should be actively involved in the enlightening programme.

    According to him, the creation of such awareness through primary and secondary school subjects like Home Economics and Nutrition will spread early awareness among children.

    The expert advised NAFDAC to collaborate with local market leaders to ensure that fruit sellers sold only mature fruits.

    “Offenders should be made to face the law,” Erukainure advised.

    Erukainure, a Senior Research Officer  in the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi  (FIIRO), said public enlightenment on the implications could be the solution.

    He, however, blamed lack of perseveration and poor processing of agricultural produce as major challenges to operators in the food value chain.

    “Most times, fruits are harvested before maturity or forcefully ripened to prevent losses.

    “Some of these fruits are often kept to ripen, but eventually end up getting spoilt owing to poor storage and processing facilities and access to bigger market due to bad roads,” he said.

    The expert said that until government addressed the issues of storage facility and bad roads, losses on the part of the consumers and the traders would continue.

     

  • Skill Acquisition: FIRO signs MoU with Lions Club

    Skill Acquisition: FIRO signs MoU with Lions Club

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Association of Lions Club, District 404B1, Nigeria, on the skill acquisition and training of youth and women in the district.

    FIIRO will educate them on how to be entrepreneurs based on sustainable manufacturing, whereas Lions will provide beneficiaries with capital needed for the project. The Bank of Industry (BOI) will also fund participants in their business and technology plans.

    The agreement was reached over last weekend in Abeokuta, during the investiture of Waheed Kadiri as Lions 404B1 District Governor.

    Senator Gbenga Kaka, who chaired the event, commended the institution and the club for the initiative, which he noted will go a long way in diversifying the economy.

     

  • House committee gives FIIRO pass markHouse committee gives FIIRO pass mark

    The House Committee on Science and Technology has commended the management of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), for improving on its facilities and research activities since its last visit.

    Chairman of the committee, Hon Abiodun Akinlade, said the improvement showed the institute made good use of its funds.

    “Compared to last year, there has being a lot of improvement in the area of infrastructural development. You can see they have really used the money given to them judiciously. Yes, we are impressed with the institute in the area of Research and Development (R&D), particularly in the area of commercialization, they have taken a step further in the area of commercialization by going into the states to have a synergy between the state and the agency. We are pleased with that and we also believe that we can do a lot,” he said.

    The members of the committee however urged the institute to collaborate with other agencies to improve commercialization and adoption of its research outputs by small scale entrepreneurs. He also urged the institute led by Dr Gloria Elemo, its Director-General, to invest in publicity of its industrial solutions so that many more Nigerians are aware of technologies that can provide them with means of livelihood.

    “They need to spend a lot of money on publicity. Nobody will know whatever you are doing until you tell people. From the angle of national assembly, we will make sure that they know what FIIRO is doing here. It is still not enough for them to train people. You see the problem we have today is not about training, where will they get funds to establish? That is where partnership with the funding agencies like the African Development Bank and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) come in,” he said.

    On her part, Dr Elemo sought support to commercialise the institute’s technologies given the cost implications.

    “R&D is not cheap. To make R&D publicly known and for people to buy into it, we need a lot of funds. We are expecting that we get much more money into the commercialization of R&D especially since we have the R&D on ground in almost all the agro raw materials in this country. All we need now is the support for commercialization and to do commercialization, awareness, and publicity are very expensive,” she said.