Leading Nigerian fast consumer moving goods (FCMG) conglomerate, PZ Cussons has given reason behind its unflinching support for the development of science and laboratory education across Nigerian institutions of higher learning.
in his address at the commissioning of a multimillion naira Chemical Engineering laboratory at Alex-Ekweme Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ikwe (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, the Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons, Mr. Christos Giannopoulos said the delivery of the project was in furtherance of agreement the company had with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) to commit resources towards provision of state-of-the-art equipment in some selected Nigerian Universities and research centers.
He recalled that his company had before now, upgraded three chemical laboratories and is ready and willing to upgrade more three including the just commissioned one in AE-FUNAI.
While assuring that PZ Cussons will continue to have interest in Nigeria’s technological growth to deepen industrial outputs and grow GDP, Giannopoulos said the agreement was necessitated by the fact that no meaningful break-through can be achieved in scientific inquiries without necessary facilities and infrastructure that can compete globally.
Earlier in his keynote address, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, applauded PZ Cussons Nigerian PLC, for the effective and result oriented collaboration with NOTAP in the delivery of the academic edifice in the University located in his state.
He challenged other multinationals to emulate PZ Cussons in building development oriented synergies that will raise the quality of infrastructures in Nigerian schools.
Business Hilights recalls that the facility was powered by the collaboration between PZ Cussons and NOTAP to upgrade the laboratories of some selected knowledge Institutions across the six geopolitical zones of the country to ensure a rapid development of skilled manpower in the country.
According to the Minister, “Industries must work closely with the Universities because Universities are the home of research and when there is synergy, researches carried out in the Universities will be such that will solve the problems of the industry.
He added that with this kind of collaboration, commercialization of research finding may not be a problem because Industry will be very ready, very willing and very committed to ensuring that such research results are commercialized and made available in the market as products.
Dr Onu averred that “Nigeria cannot become a truly great nation if we depend on other nations to meet our demands. We are all aware that countries like Japan, China, India and other countries have taken their citizens out of poverty through research and innovation.
While decrying the use of alternative to practical in teaching students in our institutions, the Minister decried that “Students cannot be skilled enough when they are not taken through the practical aspect of their courses of study”.
“Nigerian knowledge institutions should fully embrace practical to ensure that students graduate with technical skills that can dovetail into improved techno-economic growth of the country.
Corroborating the Minister’s stand, Director General of NOTAP, Dr. DanAzumi Mohammed Ibrahim, thanked PZ Cussons for joining hands with Nigeria in deepening technological education.
The DG decried that “In carrying out the registration of technology transfer agreement which is the primary function of NOTAP, it was discovered that over 90% of the technology powering Nigerian economy are foreign,” saying time has come to change the embarrassing trend.
