Funding
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, April 9, 2018, (NAN) National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria, has called on the Federal Government to support the institute with more funding in its effort at invigorating research and development in the country.
Mr Nasirudeen Aliyu, the Assistant Chief Marketing Officer of the institute made the call on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
NARICT is a parastatal in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology with the mandate to develop technologies required by the chemicals industry and undertake research and development work into processes for the conversion of agricultural, mineral and other raw materials into chemicals.
Aliyu, who stressed that the major challenge of the institute was funding, said research and development ought to be prioritised “because it is the foundation of every nation’s development”.
‘’The critical challenge may not be as much different from what obtains in other institutes within Nigeria.
‘’You go back to the laboratory, correct whatever it is and you make progress,” he said.
Aliyu said the institute also sought a fair ground for implementation of government’s policies to create the enabling environment for indigenous innovators.
‘’We need to create policies that will make these local inventions and innovations thrive,” he said.
He said the institute was ready to partner with investors and critical stakeholders ‘’who will be able to see what we do and share our experiences so that they can take it further to commercialise.”
NAN reports that NARICT had intervened in the critical sector of the nation’s economy by manufacturing products like minero-organic based fertilizers and made-in-Nigeria footballs for local league.
It had also produced mobile laboratory kits, bio-fertilizers, school chemicals and reagents, among others. (NAN)
TOA/COA/GY
Edited by Constance Athekame/Grace Yussuf