By Victoria Onyisi
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has challenged the academia to make best use of the state-of-the-art laboratory equipment donated by NOTAP and PZ Cussons for Nigeria’s development.
He said this is to ensure that Abia State through the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, regains its position as the food producer for the entire eastern Nigeria.
The Minister commended the partnership between the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc in Upgrading Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Laboratories of Nigerian Universities.
Nnaji, who was represented at the Commissioning ceremony of a newly upgraded Chemical and Chemistry Engineering Laboratory of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mrs. Esuabana Nko-Asanye, said that the partnership was necessary in improving science education in Nigeria.
The Minister stated that upgrading the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering laboratory of the school will offer the students opportunity to undertake critical laboratory experiment and come up with research and development results that may translate into goods and services for not just the benefit of the immediate community but the nation at large.
In a statement made available to the media and signed by Mr. Raymond Onyenezi Ogbu, of the Media and Communications department of the Office, he quoted the Minister as saying that Nigeria was blessed with arable land favorable weather for production of farm produce and should not have any reason to import food from other Countries.
He added that in the early 1980s, Umudike, was known for production of all kinds of food that was enough to feed the entire eastern States but wondered why the situation suddenly changed.
He challenged the University community to make utmost use of the state-of-the-art laboratory equipment donated by NOTAP and PZ Cussons to ensure that the State regains its position as the food producer for the entire eastern Nigeria.
Earlier in her welcome address, the acting Director General of NOTAP, Dr. Idoreyin Imiyoho informed the gathering that the project known as NOTAP-Industry Research Laboratory Upgrade (NIRLUP) started in 2014 based on the need to link the academia with industry. She added that it was a voluntary partnership to upgrade the chemical and chemistry engineering laboratories of some selected Nigerian knowledge institutions to ensure credible research results.
Imiyoho, said that education was the cornerstone for progress and science education in particular, holds the key to unlocking the boundless opportunities inherent in the citizens.
She said that the role that science, technology and innovation plays in driving economic sustainability and societal progress cannot be over-emphasized, adding that NOTAP as a technology regulatory agency saw the need in upgrading the research facilities of the Nigerian knowledge institutions and requested to partner with the industry to actualize that.
The acting DG noted that only PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc agreed to partner with the Office to support research in Chemical sciences and engineering.
According to her, under the partnership, PZ Cussons funded the upgrading of five institutions, the Chemical Laboratories of the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria, the Chemical laboratory of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Chemical Engineering Laboratory of Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola, Adamawa State, Abubakar Tafawa Belewa University, Bauchi and Alex Ekweme University of Technology Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State.
She stated that when the company saw the potential impacts of the upgraded laboratories, it made further commitment to upgrade additional five Universities with the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture being the first to be commissioned among the second set of institutions to be upgraded.
She expressed appreciation to PZ Cussons for showing a high sense of responsibility to the Nigerian nation through this type of strategic partnership, adding that it is through such partnership that Nigeria will be able to transform knowledge into socio-economic solutions and assets that will bring about sustained national development.
In his address, the Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons, Mr. Dimitris Koistianis who was represented at the commissioning ceremony by the Director Supply Chains, Engr. Ifeanyichukwu Abadom, said he was glad that the MOU signed between PZ Cussons, NOTAP and the benefiting Universities is yielding beautiful fruits.
He said PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc is always committed to improving the lives of their customers, communities, stakeholders and the society in general, stating that the mantra of the company is: for everyone, for life, for good.
The CEO noted that PZ shares a common vision with NOTAP in domesticating technical know-how and providing the necessary infrastructure to embed and conduct research locally. He further stated that PZ is proud of its partnership with and support for NOTAP in the area of Industry Research Laboratory Upgrade (NIRLUP) as well as in the NOTAP-Industry Technology Transfer Fellowship (NITTF).
He said that the company will continue to support any genuine proposal from critical partners like NOTAP as the development of the Country is the responsibility of everyone. He therefore expressed the readiness of the company to upgrade and commission the laboratories of the remaining institutions as agreed in the MOU.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, expressed joy over the upgrading of the laboratory. He said that the institution is now better equipped to conduct critical research.