On Monday, 11th May, 2015, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi received the West Africa Agricultural Productivity (WAAPP) Supervision/Support Team on a Working Visit. The team was led by Dr. Sheu Salau who is the WAAPP Regional Task Team Leader from the World Bank. Also in the team were: Dr. Lucas Akapa, WAAPP Coordinator from CORAF/WECARD; Prof. Chikwendu Damain, National Coordinator, WAAPP – Nigeria and Dr. Kadir Osman Gyasi, the National Coordinator, WAAPP – Ghana.
Dr. (Mrs.) Gloria N. Elemo, the Director-General/CEO of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) in her welcome address, alluded to the objective of WAAPP team’s visit which was to review the progress of implementation of WAAPP projects with the various collaborating organizations with WAAPP of which FIIRO is a Major stakeholder.
She also stressed that WAAPP-Nigeria has been a very strategic partner to FIIRO because of her mandate most especially in the R&D on food and agro-processing technologies which is in tandem with the objective of WAAPP while stating that no other Institution in Nigeria can serve this purpose better than FIIRO.
She also appreciated WAAPP for the approvals the Institute got from the organization to execute the following projects:
- Training in the Six geo-political zones on the following technologies:
High Quality Cassava Flour
Odourless Fufu Flour
Industrial Starch
Fruit Juice
Instant Pounded Yam Flour
Kunu Production and Preservation
Fish Smoking
Tomato Processing
Zobo Production and Preservatio
2. Publication of Promotional documents to enhance information dissemination for enterprise creation.
Publication of 19 Industrial Profiles on selected agro-processing technologies.
Booklet on “Industrial Projects Opportunities in 50-agro-processing Technologies in FIIRO.
3. R&D in the following projects:
Characterization of IPYF produced from selected yam species in yam growing region in Nigeria.
Development of appropriate process technology for drying fresh tomatoes into powder and its utilization dehydrated source premix for instant stew preparation.
Production of rice milk and rice crisp from broken rice
Production of high quality phytase from local substrates for application in animal feeds.
Development of process technology for dehydration of mango powder and leather
Dr. Sheu Salau (Regional WAAPP Task TeamLeader, World Bank), in his address stressed that FIIRO is a very serious result-driven institution and alluded to the fact that WAAPP and FIIRO have a lot in common thereby assuring FIIRO of the readiness of World Bank and WAAPP to collaborate with her. He also promised to link the Institute with various other donor organizations that are relevant to efficient and effective delivery on its mandate.
The team made the following comments, observations and suggestions:
- FIIRO to use geographical spread of WAAPP as a platform to publicize its R&D breakthroughs.
- FIIRO to partner more with industry most especially key players in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
- FIIRO to collaborate with Ministries of Health and Industry on its High Nutrient Density Biscuit and Drinks for school feeding programme which is a priority programme of the incoming government.
- FIIRO to work with Commercial Agriculture Department of World Bank especially in the area of packaging and to engage more Donor organizations to fund the Institute’s R&D projects.
- The need to engage Corporate Marketers and Consultants to market the Institute R&D output to industries.
- The need to work more with organizations that support agriculture and agro-processing such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Agriculture (BoA) etc.
- The need to address some of the policies hindering the operations of the Institute through the reviewed Act establishing the Institute.
- The need for continuously emphasis on the opportunities that exist at the Institute for enterprise promotion and development and to embark on aggressive commercialization of the Institute’s numerous R&D results
- The need for more regional collaboration with relevant institutions.
- The need for the Institute to begin to see opportunities in its current challenges and to properly package such to reposition the Institute strategically for the incoming administration.
The DG/CEO in her closing remarks thanked the team for their various comments and suggestions and promise that she would set up a committee to look at the various suggestions with a view to implementing them to enhance the performance of the Institute to make it to deliver effectively and efficiently on its mandate.
Finally, the team expressed satisfaction in the Institute’s activities and leadership and concluded that the Institute has all it takes to execute all the approved WAAPPP projects.