FIIRO unveils automated plant for kunu, zobo drinks
The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) has disclosed in Abuja, during the FIIRO day at the ongoing Technology and Innovation Week, 2018, with the theme “Stimulating Economic Growth through Commercialization of Indigenous Research and Development Results” that it has automated the plants for the production of Kunu and Zobo drinks.
The Director General, FIIRO, Gloria Elemo, who announced this during her welcome address, stated that the institute partner with an indigenous automation company, Automation and Engineering Nig Limited, to come up with two automated plants for Kunu and Zobo Drinks. Elemo recalled that the Minister for Science and Technology had in 2017 edition of Technology and Innovation Week advised that FIIRO automate its production processes, which is now a reality. She said; “The Hon. Minister Sir, the
Institute will continue to be guided by your wisdom and directives. No doubt you were very delighted with the innovative processing equipment exhibited by over 50 fabricators that were invited to the Technology and Innovation Week 2017 at the instance of FIIRO but you made a comment that we took very serious. You commented last year that you would like to see automated equipment rather than batch equipment in subsequent editions of the Technology and Innovation Week. This comment got us thinking and we have to partner with an indigenous automation company i.e. Automation and Engineering Nig Limited to come up with two automated plants for Kunu and Zobo Drinks.”
In his key note address, Matthew O. Ilori, a Profesor at the African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, noted that there are no economic gains from R&D untill the outputs (including patents) are exploited.
Ilori stated that innovation occurs through entrepreneurial activities that take care of marketing, adding that innovation is only possible when R&D is demand-driven and solves real life problems. He pointed out that innovative performance of an economy depends on how each element performs, stressing that strong interaction must exist among the elements in the system for good performance in knowledge creation and use. Ilori who regretted that Nigeria is rated least in terms of global competitiveness; said:
“Other countries are rated higher because they allocate greater proportion of the GDP to R&D and commercialization. For instance, South Korea allocated 4.4% GDP to R&D and innovation.
“In most of the countries the private sector makes larger contribution to R&D when compared to government’s allocation. Lamenting poor funds allocation to research institutes, he said, resources available for R&D are too thin and are spread on numerous researches running concurrently. “For instance, in OAU, records showed that grants were allocated to about 46 research projects
between 1998 and 2002, and 87 research projects between 2003 and the first quarter of 2007. Unfortunately, most of the projects are surveys, impact analyses, appraisals, evaluation studies or analytical studies, while only about one percent is innovative and/or interdisciplinary. In his words, individuals, Knowledge Institutions, Government and the productive sector all have a critical role to play.
He urged the government to allocation of more fund to R&D and commercialization, calling on the private sector in the country to contribute more to R&D and innovation. “With increase in R&D and commercialisation, more jobs and wealth would be created thus leading to economic growth.” Ilori stated.
