Look beyond crude oil, science minister tells NISTL

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has said for Nigeria to exit recession it must look beyond crude oil as its mainstay. Represented by the director of science and technology promotion in the ministry, Elder Ekanem Udoh, Onu spoke in Abuja at the 32nd annual national conference/scientific workshop of the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT).
He said the country must start to prepare for the future of a post crude oil economy to guide against slipping further into deep recession: “Systematic utilization and application of science and technology would improve the living standards of Nigerians and by extension the economy.
“As the Minister of Science and Technology, my concern and focus have been directed towards making our research findings from the laboratories relevant and accessed for national development. We must therefore direct our collective efforts towards bridging the gap between research findings and product commercialization to industries to serve the needs of our people.”
He said institutional laboratories were being rehabilitated and equipped by the Federal Government to make them produce skilled manpower and standard laboratory results. He commended NISLT for its roles towards pulling back the Nigeria’s economy from recession, urging them to do more.
Acting Registrar/Director-General of NISLT, Mr Yemi Gbadegesin, said the professional body had resolved to improve on the capacity and competencies of all its members with a view to achieving quality laboratory system in all aspects of the economy to reduce heavy reliance on crude oil.
In carrying out its statutory responsibility, the institute, he stated, licensed five private laboratories between 2015 and 2016 namely: Cakaso Laboratory Services, Kaduna, Jaagee (Nig) Ltd, Ibadan, Rolofex Global Ventures Warri, Delta State, Contac Global Laboratory Ltd Maitama Abuja and Science Research Laboratory, Yaba, Lagos:
“We plan to carryout mapping of research laboratories with the view of assessing their capacities in all geopolitical zones. Accreditation of SLT courses were carried out in some polytechnics in collaboration with National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) with assistance from some our members as facilitators.”
He, however, said the hard economic situation in the country was affecting its members negatively as some of them were no longer active in the activities of the body. He revealed that only 2,064 members were active, out of 19,056 total members as at October 2016.