Yemisi Izuora
The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, FIIRO, has expressed its determination to engage local industries and other research bodies to automate production processes in the country.
The FIIRO recognizes the fact that industries the world over are going the way of automation in their industrial and production process with well over 2 million roberts involved in various process lines in industries.
At an event to mark the official flag off of a working relationship between FIIRO and the Automation and Engineering Academy of Nigeria, the Director General of FIIRO, Prof Gloria Elemo expressed the importance of equipment automation in any process line. She recalled the involvement of AEA in the automaton of the Kunu and Zobo drinks in 2017 at the Technology and Innovation Expo of 2017 in Abuja.
She expressed her delight at the ensuring relationship between the two organizations stressing that the relationship will among other things create gainful employments, improve Nigerians GDP; help in joint patenting and proposal writing and many more
On his part, the Manager Director of Automation & Engineering Academy Engr. Olawole Ikotun expressed his profound faith in the FIIRO/AEA relationship which will be used in localising fabrications that were imported into the country, thereby conserving the country’s foreign exchange. Engr. Ikotun lamented the disconnect between schools, Research and industry and presented equipment automation as the means by which the gap can be bridge.
He made mention that FIIRO will be upgraded to be an Automation Centre where young Nigerians can learn various skills of automation. With this development effort will be in top gear to produce Nigeria’s first steam Boiler which hitherto has always been imported into teh country. The two parties later ink paper to formalize the relationship.