The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji has commended the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and the PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, for their synergy in promoting critical and demand-driven research in Nigerian universities and research establishments through the NOTAP-Industry Research Laboratory Upgrade (NIRLUP) scheme.
In a statement signed by Raymond Onyenezi Ogbu, for Head Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Nnaji gave this commendation at the commissioning of the upgraded Chemistry Laboratory of the University of Jos, Plateau State on Tuesday, February 18.
The Minister who was represented by the Director General of NOTAP, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, expressed deep concerns over the level of research carried out in Nigerian knowledge establishments due to insufficient research laboratories.
He commended PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc for sponsoring the upgrade of eight Chemistry and Chemical Laboratories of selected universities and research institutions in Nigeria, which according to him, has increased not only the level of credible research undertakings, but also the enthusiasm of the Nigerian researchers.
The minister observed a disconnect between the industry and national system of innovation (NSI) which has inadvertently led to lack of confidence in our graduates and research capability by the industry, adding that in order to address the identified weaknesses and bridge the gap between the academia and industry, NOTAP came up with a number of industry partnership initiatives, including NOTAP-Industry Research Laboratory Upgrade.
He, however, expressed dissatisfaction that since the commencement of the programme, only PZ Cussons has keyed into it, spending over N700m upgrading 10 laboratories and commissioning them, out of which eight, including UNIJOS, has been fully upgraded and commissioned.
In her remarks, NOTAP DG, Dr. Amadiobi said the synergy between the Office and PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc is a demonstration of the power in Public Private Partnership (PPP) to the socio-economic development of the nation.
She stated that the NOTAP-Industry Research Laboratory Upgrade initiative came into effect in order to bridge the gap between academia and industry by carrying out credible and industrial need-base research for the advancement of the industry.
She emphasized that as an industry player, PZ Cussons understands their challenges, hence the equipment donated to the knowledge institutions are state-of-the-act laboratory equipment that will sharpen the skills of the students in conducting and delivering globally acceptable research results.
Dr. Amadiobi further stated that since the introduction of the programme, only PZ Cussons has shown interest, using the opportunity to call on other multinational companies to join hands with the PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc in ensuring that more Nigerian schools benefit from the gesture as the impact is already being felt by both the beneficiaries and the benefactor.
She expressed delight at the favourable dispositions of the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology in supporting NOTAP and by encouraging the partnership which, according to her, has yielded significant results in critical knowledge acquisition especially in science-related fields across the geopolitical zones of the Country.
The DG equally used the avenue to appreciate the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos for his support and enthusiasm in fast-tracking the commissioning of the upgraded laboratory and also for the warm reception and hospitality.
In his good will message, the Managing Director and CEOr of PZ Cusson Nigeria Plc, Mr. Dimitris Kostianis, represented by Mr. Samson Moju, Head Corporate Service and Project African leadership team, assured that PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc is ready and willing to continue to advance critical research in Nigeria through its commitment to upgrading laboratories of Nigerian knowledge institutions.
He said the company’s relationship with NOTAP has gone beyond rhetoric as PZ is currently in partnership with three major projects.
According to him, apart from the NOTAP-Industry Research Laboratory Upgrade (NIRLUP), the company is also involved in NOTAP-Industry Technology Transfer Fellowship (NITTF) as well as Technology Story Board initiative
In his words of appreciation, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, expressed joy at the realization of the laboratory dream, noting that the equipment came at the nick of time when the accreditation team came to the university for the accreditation of additional courses and all the sources were based on the equipment the accreditation team saw, adding that the partnership is a wonderful experience.
