Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has advised research institutes to strengthen collaboration with Manufacturers Associations of Nigeria (MAN) on mass production of research findings to enhance economic development in Nigeria.
The minister gave the advice on Tuesday in Zaria during the centenary celebration of Samaru College of Agriculture, a Division of Agricultural Colleges of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
The minister, represented by Mrs Rukayya Iliyasu, Director University Education in the ministry, said globally, research institutions collaborate with manufacturing industries to produce and market their research findings.
“As research institutions they need to invite the Manufacturers Associations of Nigeria (MAN) into the system to see what they have done,’’ the minister said.
The minister said the partnership would enable relevant industries to get the patent right for mass production of such products.
When the minister was asked on what the ministry is doing to enhance such collaboration, he said they needed to know what the institutes have done in order to assist them.
He however said that the marketing of the researches lied with the institutes.
Earlier, Provost of the college, Prof. Ebenya Shaibu-Imodagbe said that the college, which started as a Hands-on Agricultural Training Centre at Maigana in 1921, was established by British Cotton Growers Association.
He added that after series of modifications, the college began diploma courses in 1987.
In his remarks, Prof. Kabiru Bala, Vice Chancellor, ABU, noted that the college had served its purpose of producing middle-level manpower for the agricultural sector in Nigeria and West Africa
