The task of honoring its constitutional obligation to register Nigeria among industrialized nations has been placed on the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO).
This is even though, according to the FIIRO’s statement, the Research Institution has never once failed to fulfill its responsibilities as stated by the Non-governmental Organization, Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA).
In an interview with LEADERSHIP, the chairman of the non-governmental organization Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), HEDA Resource Center, Olanrewaju Suraju, expressed curiosity about the role FIIRO has been playing in addressing food insecurity in the country, particularly given the high cost of food.
Suraju states, “I believe FIIRO has missed and is still missing on its strategic mandate and function in establishing the agenda and positioning the nation in the field of modern research for industrial revolution and development.
“The incapacity of responsible institutions to persuade politicians and bureaucrats on the necessity of such investment is the reason behind the failure of successive governments to invest in or realize the need for such investment.”
Suraju also accused FIIRO of being inefficient and urged it to operate as efficiently as possible to advance economic development.
Chris Olumuyiwa, the head of FIIRO’s Information and Public Relations Unit, responded to this statement made by HEDA in a conversation with LEADERSHIP, stating that FIIRO has not failed to fulfill its mandate.
Olumuyiwa claims, “HEDA’s recent remarks regarding the situation at FIIRO were made out of ignorance and a purposeful attempt to deceive the Nigerian public.
“Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju of HEDA did not take any action to observe things for himself within the institute, nor did he take the necessary steps to adhere to the pattern of encouraging remarks and praise from research and development stakeholders.”
To further address the socioeconomic aspirations of Nigerians, the FIIRO official reaffirmed that “all the Technical Departments of the institute are engaged in at least four research activities per department.”