FIIRO TRAINS 50 YOUTHS FROM DELTA STATE

 The Institute as part of its efforts to address the issue of unemployment and youths restiveness in the Niger Delta area trained 50 youths from Delta State drawn from Ubulu-Uku Youths Association under its National Techno-entrepreneurship Development Programme. The 3-day intensive techno-entrepreneurship development training took place at the Institute between Monday, 18^th January and Wednesday, 20^th January, 2016. The Director-General/CEO, Dr. (Mrs.) G.N Elemo during the opening ceremony informed the participants that the 3-day techno-entrepreneurship development training is centred on five technologies namely: Fish Smoking; Fruit Juice Production; High Quality Cassava Flour Production; Instant Pounded Yam Flour Production and Bread and Confectioneries baking which have been carefully selected to facilitate smooth take off by participants especially in terms of financial requirements and other logistics required to start an enterprise.

MOTIVE INTERNATIONAL PARLEYS FIIRO ON SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME

In order to further consolidate the relationship between the Institute and Motive International – an American company, a team comprising of Ms Morgan Keay-Chief Executive Officer; Miss Jennifer Prillaman- Business Development Executive and Tunji Ladner – the Nigerian Representative visited the Institute on Monday, 25^th January, 2016. The team was received by the Director-General/CEO of the Institute, Dr. (Mrs.) G.N Elemo assisted by Dr. Dele Oyeku (Director, Extension & Linkage) and Mr. Patrick Usen, the Chief Executive Officer, Inter-Heritage Promotions Limited, a Consultant to the Institute on R&D commercialization.

The DG/CEO, Dr. (Mrs.) G.N Elemo said she was very glad to receive Ms. Morgan Keay and her team back to the Institute for further discussion on developing a sustainable model for the National School Feeding Programme.

FMST AT 2016 OFFSHORE WEST AFRICA YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME

The Hon. Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was ably represented by the DG/CEO, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr. (Mrs.) G.N Elemo at the 20^th Anniversary Edition of the Offshore West Africa Conference & Exhibition held at Eko Hotel & Suites between 26^th - 28th January, 2016 held under the auspices of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and endorsement of Nigeria’s Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

The Offshore West Africa Youth Employment Programme (YEP) is an important component of the Offshore West Africa Conference & Exhibition, an initiative owned by PenWell and designed by Lonadek in collaboration with the Energy Institute. At the event, the Hon. Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu gave a keynote address at the opening ceremony, presented a Ministerial speech on Youth Employment Programme during the Youth Employment Programme Session and declared the exhibition opened.

NATIONAL SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM, FMST/FIIRO – NASCO - INTERHERITAGE COLLABORATION

A team of highly experienced technical staff of NASCO Foods Limited, Jos visited the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi on Wednesday, 13^th January, 2016 at the instance of the Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu for further discussion on the collaborative effort on the National School Feeding Programme. The team was received on arrival by the DG/CEO of FIIRO, Dr. (Mrs.) Gloria N. Elemo and some other top management staff of the Institute including: Director, Chemical, Fibre and Environmental Technology - Dr. Chima Igwe; Director, Food Technology - Dr. (Mrs.) Toyin Oluwole and Director, Extension & Linkage -Dr. Dele Oyeku. On NASCO team were: Technical Director -Alh. Bala Saleh; Supply Chain Director - Alh. Mohammed Shakir; Marketing Manager - Mr. James Iwunze; Category Brand Manager- Mr. Gbolahan Oyenuga and Mr. Haruna Harry Audu – Legal Adviser.

The visit was in respect of the collaborative effort of FMST/FIIRO – NASCO for commercial production of High Nutrient Density (HND) Biscuit developed by FMST through FIIRO for the School Feeding Programme of the Federal Government. The HND biscuit is developed to meet one third Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) requirements of school age children to be produced on commercial basis by NASCO Foods Limited. According to the DG/CEO, FIIRO, Dr. (Mrs.) G.N Elemo, the collaboration is going to be win- win for all the parties involved and the benefit is enormous from the angle of utilization of indigenous raw materials in the formulation of the biscuits; conservation of foreign exchange; creation of jobs and improvement in enrolments of school children as well as enhancement of mental capacity of the children.

FIIRO PARTNERS NASCO ON COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF HIGH NUTRIENT DENSITY BISCUIT FOR SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM

Representatives of Nasco Foods Ltd. namely James Iwunze- Marketing Manager; Gbolahan Oyenuga- Brand Manager – Foods; and Harry Audu- Legal Adviser  visited the Institute on Wednesday, 9^th December, 2015 as a follow up on the company’s interest in commercialization of High Nutrient Density Biscuit developed at FIIRO for school age children between the ages 5 and 12. This biscuit is able to meet one-third of the recommended daily dietary allowance for the children in these age bracket.

DISCLAIMER OF MISCHIEVOUS REPORTS BY MALICIOUS MEDIA

It has come to our attention that an online news platform in the name of Integrity Reporters has been publishing some unsavory reports about the affairs of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO). While as an organization under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, we do not join issues with rumor peddlers and their accomplices, we consider it a duty on our part to inform the general public to disregard the unfounded allegations contained in the online reports published by the so called Integrity Reporters.

The fact that the reportage alluded to obtaining its information from unconfirmed sources lays credence to our opinion that the report is a figment of the imagination of the writer and an unsolicited attempt for patronage by trying to discredit the enviable strides that FIIRO had been making under the leadership of our Director General, Dr. Gloria Elemo.

While we cannot rule out the possibility of collusion between the unknown reporter and insiders in FIIRO, who may be after one mischief or the other, we wish to state clearly that we will employ available human and legal resources to uncover the seemingly faceless media organization and their accomplices and seek redress.  

We henceforth ask Integrity Reporters to desist from further attempt to tarnish the hard earned good image of the Director General or FIIRO and its staffers through its unfounded reports.

SIGNED:

DR. GLORIA N. ELEMO

DIRECTOR GENERAL/CEO

      

TECHNOPRENEURS NEWS

Click here to Download FIIRO 2015 Technopreneurs News

COURTESY VISIT OF MD/CEO BANK OF INDUSTRY (BOI) TO FIIRO

The MD/CEO Bank of Industry Mr Rasheed Adejare Olaoluwa paid a courtesy visit to the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi in order to enhance Linkage between Innovation Centres and Industry.

This necessitated discussions on collaboration and mutual agreement on various national issues to drive social-economic development for the sustenance of enterprises especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

The salient points were viewed as a step in the right direction for the actualization of the common heritage and mandate of the two organisations especially in the areas of financing investments in locally developed technologies. This is expected to accelerate economic advancement through job creation, poverty alleviation and youth & women empowerment based on value addition in agro-allied industries for the industrialization of Nigeria.

FIIRO HOLDS ROUNDTABLE SCIENTIFIC MEETING ON NUTRACEUTICALS AND MANAGEMENT OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE

About 5% of the world’s population is affected with haemoglobin disorders with an estimated 300,000 babies born with severe haemoglobin disorders annually in Africa and about 150,000 of them are Nigerians. Statistics have also shown that over 40 million Nigerians are sickle cell gene carriers.

To ameliorate the suffering of the people suffering from sickle cell disease, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi initiated a programme on development of nutraceutical products (Food supplement) and has developed some novel nutraceutical products suitable for the management of sickle cell anaemic condition.

In order to enhance the development of the products, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi in collaboration with Temitayo Awosika Help Foundation organized a Roundtable Scientific Meeting to subject the products to expert critique on Tuesday, 19^th August, 2014 at Akinrele International Auditorium, FIIRO. The theme of the meeting is “Improving Sickle Cell Anemia Management- The Nutraceutical Approach”

FIIRO HOLDS CASSAVA BREAD RECIPE CONFIRMATION EXERCISE

It is a common knowledge that there are many recipes for cassava bread developed by various institutions in Nigeria. Some have come up with cassava bread recipe including egg, milks etc which make such recipes unprofitable and more importantly unsustainable. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has sponsored many trainings for Master Bakers with each training institution sometimes using their own recipes to train. This has raised the issue of standardization of recipes which the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development bought into and directed the Institute to carry out Cassava Bread Recipe Confirmation Exercise with all stakeholders in attendance with a view to evolving a national recipe for cassava bread.

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT OF FIIRO 2014 INVESTMENT AND TECHNOLOGY WEEK

FEDERAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH OSHODI
FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT OF FIIRO 2014 INVESTMENT AND TECHNOLOGY WEEK
THEME: SUSTAINABLE JOB CREATION THROUGH FIIRO TECHNOLOGIES The 2014 FIIRO Investment & Technology Week scheduled to hold in the third quarter of the year will showcase an assembly of new technologies and products developed in the Institute. The event will attract Technology Providers, F...inancial Institutions, Agencies and Departments in the Federal Ministries of Science & Technology, Agriculture, Trade & Investment, SME Service Providers, Youth Empowerment Program Facilitators & Innovative Research & Development Technology Producers who shall be there as participants and exhibitors .
The official venue is the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi.
The event will be declared open by His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
For enquires on sponsorship, adverts or exhibitions, Please call:

Deji Oyediran
08037201569
deji.oyediran@fiiro.gov.ng

OR

Yeside Adesiyun
080270389665
yeside.adesiyun@fiiro.gov.ng

FIIRO hosts 14th EKO RIGAN GAMES

The Federal Institute of Iindustrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) will be hosting the 14th Research Institute Game Association of Nigeria (RIGAN) from 6th to 16th December, 2013.

AGRIBUSINESS TAKES CENTER STAGE AT THE 19TH NIGERIAN ECONOMIC SUMMIT (NES 19)

The 19^th Nigerian Economic Summit was held between September 3-5, 2013, at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. The central theme of the summit was Growing Agriculture as a Business to Diversify Nigeria’s Economy. The summit was used as a platform to evaluate the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the federal government with the aim of ensuring that its potential translates into job creation, food security, social security and economic diversification. All the specific sectorial indicators that can crystallize the expected change were extensively considered with the following critical outcomes:

FIIRO R&D TECHNOLOGIES TRAINING PROGRAM

Technology Transfer Training workshop application form, click on the link for more information:// http://www.fiiro.org/index.php/events

CERTIFICATE IN TECHNO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP STUDIES

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi offers a 3-month practical Certificate Course in Techno-entrepreneurship Studies in conjunction with Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. The course aims at developing and enhancing entrepreneurial skills and knowledge for self employment through the establishment of cottage, small and medium technical enterprises. Click on the link for more information: http://www.fiiro.org/index.php/entrepreneurship-training

FIIRO HOSTS 2ND DISTINGUISHED GUEST LECTURE

The 2^nd Distinguished Guest Lecture of the Institute was delivered by Professor Francis OluwoleShode, of the University of Zululand, South Africa on June 20, 2013. The theme was“Nutraceuticals: Promoting Innovation for Natural Product Utilization for Food and Non-food Uses in Nigeria”. Amongst the distinguished guests at the forum were Dr. Kenny Achonolu, CEO Bio-organics Nutrient Systems Limited, Dr. Deere Awosika, a former Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science & Technology, Prof. ‘Jide Elemo of LASU & Prof. O. F. Oshundahunsi of FUTA. The discussants include Prof O. A. Ogunmoyela, of Bells University, Ota, Prof L. O. Sanni of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Dr. A. Okoruwa of Glaxo SmithKline (GSK) Plc, Dr.TundeBalogun of  Fidson Pharmaceuticals, Prof. PrincewillAlozie of LASU, Dr.Jane Okafor of FIIRO and Mr. O. A. Ojakoya of Neimeth  Pharmaceuticals.

About 180 distinguished participants from the Academia, Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics industries and various relevant organizations/institutions participated in the lecture. The Director General/CEO, Dr. Gloria Elemo played host to the guests and participants at the event.

FIIRO's Preliminary Results Okay Cassava Bread

The health concern of cassava bread consumers, especially people prone to diabetes, is being addressed by the Glycemic index (GI) studies embarked upon by the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos. GI refers to how much and how quickly sugar is released into the body from ingested foods. the higher the index, the faster the food item will release sugar into the blood stream. Rather than rely on general online information alone to find out how these carbohydrate from the cassava flour is handled by the human body, the Institute has taken up research studies that use the cassava-inclusion loaves of 10 and 20 percent to generate the result locally.

And so far, according to the Director General and CEO of the Institute, Dr. Gloria Elemo, the preliminary result has been encouraging, declaring that the cassava is quite safe. The Director General said with inclusion of cassava flour of lower GI than wheat flour, the bread becomes even healthier and more so for even diabetic patients. She said the study stems from the fact that the Institute is unwaveringly commited to the cassava flour production and inclusion in bread, a transformation agenda issue of the Federal Government. She said the cassava industry that is capable of generating about three million jobs is worth all the effort being put in by FIIRO over the past few decades. With a whopping N635 million spent on wheat importation yearly, cassava flour inclusion of 20-40 percent make economic s sense, a situation that would turn around the fortunes of Nigerian farmers and stakeholders in the value chain.

DG Presentation at NISER on Prospects and Challenges of cassava bread

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) pioneered R&D work on composite flours production from cereals, legumes and tubers way back in the “60s with the sole objective of reducing to an extent the importation of wheat into the country.
Major crops worked on for composite flour production include; cassava, sorghum, millet, rice and soybean.
With each of these crops, different levels or percentages of substitution or inclusion were experimented with and the results were very encouraging.

FIIRO has been in the forefront of the use of Cassava for various food products as far back as the 60’s.
FIIRO has been in the forefront of the use of cassava for various food products as far back as the 60’s.

In 1964, a composite flour programme was initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations which President Shehu Shagari’s administration keyed into.

This programme was conceived as an intervention by FAO primarily to reduce importation bills on wheat for developing countries by stimulating local production and processing of non-wheat flour(s) to be incorporated into wheat flour.

FIIRO was identified as one of the centres of  excellence for composite flour and was funded.

FIIRO and IITA explore stronger collaboration

IITA and the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) in Nigeria are forging stronger ties and will work together on postharvest and cassava research, capacity building, and youth development. This was highlighted during a recent visit by IITA to FIIRO. FIIRO is one of the pioneering R4D centers for cassava in Nigeria. The institute has made significant contributions to the understanding of cassava fermentation and the development of mechanized technologies for processing gari and fufu flour, among other cassava products.