Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation has urged the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Lagos to improve on the commercialisation of innovations and new products by the institute.
The minister made the appeal at his maiden visit to FIIRO on Thursday in Lagos.
Mamora said that FIIRO had lots of innovations and products that were not commercialised for public consumption.
He reiterated that the essence of research and innovation was to make the society a better place.
‘’It is better to take a particular priduct and see it to a logical end than having so many Innovations that are lying fallow.
‘’FIIRO is the oldest research institute and should not be allowed to be irrelevant.
“There is need to work as one to improve its status and doing things differently will not bring progress,’’ he said.
The minister encouraged staff of FIIRO to embrace the principles for enhanced productivity.
He said that some of the principles were Collaboration, Cooperation, Coordination, Communication and Cordiality and make them the guidelines in the workplace.
The minister, while reacting to the challenges earlier highlighted by Dr Jummai Tutuwa, the DG of FIIRO, said that low value for research could be attributed to poor funding.
He reiterated that funding would always be an issue because there could never be enough funding due to competing needs.
He urged the management to limit wastages and block Leakages.
Tutuwa, in her welcome address, told the minister that inadequate funding was a challenge facing the research institute.
‘’FIIRO is one of the oldest research institution in the country and has contributed to research and development in the country.
‘’The inadequate funding of the institute has brought about the finishing and commercialisation of many products ,’’ she said.
She however, pledged the institute’s continuous loyalty to the minister.
