The Management of FIIRO played host to NIFST’s Industry- Linkage Committee on May 12, 2014. The committee was led by Mr. Wole Toye. In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Gloria Elemo congratulated NIFST for the success of its last Annual Conference held in Abuja. She gave an insight into some of the projects and activities of FIIRO that may be of interest to NIFST some of which are:
- Close work with Flour Millers and CAVA (Cassava: Adding Value for Africa) in the promotion of High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF). She mentioned the work in progress in reference to having a standard recipe for the 10% cassava inclusion and the potential role for NIFST to support the standardization of HQCF recipes. She also mentioned the preparation of a draft bill on the adoption of HQCF for the National Assembly. FIIRO’s close work with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) on its cassava value chain expansion initiatives through the Cassava Transformation Agenda was also highlighted.
2. The standardization of locally fabricated food processing equipment informed a Fabricators Conference organized by FIIRO in 2012 to discuss how best to go about the process. There is also an on-going research to upgrade the design of the locally fabricated pepper grinder to “cutting and chopping” in a bid to reduce contaminants- primarily consisting of iron and magnesium. She stressed that the challenges faced by processing equipment fabricators must be solved locally as indigenous peculiarities often indicate why imported equipment are often not fit for use. Dr. Elemo also intimated the visitors of the interest of United Nations Industrialization & Development Organisation (UNIDO) in standardizing locally fabricated equipment and its collaboration with FIIRO in achieving this.
3. The on-going plan to establish an Industrial Enzyme Centre in FIIRO to support local production efforts and reduce enzyme importation to conserve foreign exchange was highlighted. She also informed the delegation that seven industrial enzymes have been developed by FIIRO and ready for scaling up to pilot scale.
4. In the area of accessing funding for SMEs, FIIRO is working with Oxfam Impact Investments to support FIIRO trained SMEs in the food processing sector.
Recapping FIIRO’s long standing relationship with NIFST, she mentioned how the first Nigerian Director of FIIRO, Dr. Isaac Akinrele happened to be the founding President of NIFST. She also expressed the view that the committee’s visit to the institute will help to see possible areas for collaboration and linkage in the food industry.
Mr. Toye in response expressed his appreciation to the DG and management for receiving his team. He gave a brief history of the Industry-Linkage Committee which was formed three years ago with the primary goal of refocusing NIFST on its primary objective of enhancing the progress of the food industry. Some of the highlights of the information and views expressed by members of the committee include;
1. The upcoming annual meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) in New Orleans the United States in August and that of International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) holding in Montreal Canada. The NIFST-Industry Linkage committee felt it may be expedient for NIFSTers in FIIRO interested in attending the conferences to leverage on NIFST’s assistance for their registration and other logistics.
2. The effort to standardize locally fabricated food processing equipment as well as the establishment of an industrial enzymes centre were commended and some members of the committee expressed their interest in collaborating with the Institute on the industrial enzyme project.
3. The recent inauguration of a Food Directorate in NAFDAC with the support of NIFST and the Food Industries in Nigeria was also highlighted as a platform that can be used to promote FIIRO’s technologies.
4. The itinerary of the Industry-Linkage Committee will also be made known to FIIRO so that it can be used as a platform to sell its R&D.
In her concluding remarks, Dr. Elemo expressed the following views,
- The need for a closer relationship between NIFST and FIIRO.
- FIIRO has been on a commercialization drive backed by public enlightenment for the past three years. However given the expensive nature of publicity and with FIIRO being a Government Organisation, the Institute is constrained to operate within its budgetary allocations.
- She acknowledged that the presence of NIFST, NICAPMA and similar organizations within the premises of FIIRO were integral to FIIRO’s strength as a Food Research Institute.
- Channels for collaboration with FIIRO on industrial enzymes production can be explored by parties interested.
- FIIRO has been initiating industrial visits to food companies towards building a closer working relationship with them.
The Techno-Entrepreneurship Division of FIIRO already reaches out to NYSC members and other potential target groups such as individuals in the pre-retirement phase, women, secondary school students and youths to get them familiar with the opportunities available for self-employment.