FIIRO set to create 5 million jobs annually

Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) has developed a workable blueprint that could effectively curb the menace of unemployment by providing well over five million job opportunities annually in the country.

Director General of FIIRO, Professor (Mrs.) Gloria Elemo who let this out during an oversight function visit to the institute by the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology on Thursday in Lagos,

said the package is designed to stimulate economic activities through processing and value addition to raw materials of relative advantage in each of the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.

According to FIIRO DG, the institute carried a comprehensive survey on raw materials of relative abundance in all the LGAs in the country, and came up with technologies that suit the raw material for massive economic exploitation.

“We have carried out a comprehensive survey on raw materials of relative abundance in all the 774 LGAs in Nigeria; equally we have identified FIIRO technologies that are suitable for processing the raw materials in these LGAs for the establishment of micro, small, medium and large enterprises.

“FIIRO has developed over two hundred and fifty (250) technologies in its sixty-one years (61) of existence and these technologies can be deployed in the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) for massive job creation and economic stimulation through processing and value addition to raw materials of relative advantage in each of the LGA.

“We have developed a Blueprint on how this process could create about 5 million jobs annually through direct and multiplier effects.

This will ensure economic independence through drastic reduction in imported goods thereby saving foreign exchange”, Elemo reiterated.

According to her, FIIRO is now more prepared than ever to deploy its technologies in support and realization of the objectives of the government’s Change Agenda. “Ours is a total technology package including development of both process technologies and the machinery & equipment”, she added.

According to her, the institute is ensuring effective technology diffusion through effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders including Nigeria Society of Engineers, Institution of Mechanical Engineers,

Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Fabricators Association of Nigeria (AMEFAN), National Association of Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (NASME), National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), among others.

She appealed to the committee members to ensure the institute continues to receive maximum attention from the federal government. Specifically, the DG amongst others, appealed for,

support for adoption of High Nutrient Density Biscuit and Drink for the National School Feeding Programme, establishment of Industrial Enzymes Model Plant, establishment of State of the Art Molecular Laboratory and for accreditation of its 50 laboratories.

Responding on behalf of the members, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Beni Lar, commended FIIRO for the level of innovation and professionalism, prudent management of available funds, assuring that the upper federal legislative house will ensure the institute continue to function effectively.

“We will make sure important institutions like FIIRO works. We are aware that FIIRO is boosting the conversion of largely available local raw materials in the country and creation of job opportunities.

That’s why since 2015 budgetary allocation to it has improved by about 50 per cent and we are willing to do more giving the available resources.

“Let me observe that FIIRO by all intent and purposes has over the years tried to achieve its core mandate of research and development to help in the industrialisation of the Nigerian economy through finding better use of the country’s raw materials and improved indigenous production technologies”, she stressed.