Rector Tasks Technologists On Small Scale Industries

Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Dr. Mufutau Olatinwo, has called on technologists in the country to devise means of developing small and medium scale industries, as a way of  addressing the current biting effect of global economic meltdown. 


Making this demand at a 2-day workshop organised by the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Kwara State Chapter, in conjunction with the Science Laboratory Technology Department of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Dr. Olatinwo submitted that the workshop was timely and important "to the present efforts of the Federal Government to reposition the technical institutions for greater service delivery and contribution to national growth.

"It is relevant to the search for full institutionalisation of research as the main preoccupation of academic staff towards national scientific breakthroughs." he stated.

Also, President/Chairman of NISLT Council, Mr. S. A. Akanji, has lauded the efforts of Dr. Olatinwo-led Management toput in place modern laboratories for  Chemistry, Physics and Biology in the Polytechnic.  

At the conference held at Adesoye Hall of the Polytechnic and with the theme Positioning Technologists for Modern Day Teaching, Research and Manufacturing, Dr. Olantiwo believes that better days await Nigeria only if science and technology are prioritised in the national policy.

“Of course, the current level of Nigeria’s technology development may not call for cheers but I am of the opinion that there is still great hope for this country.

"Indeed we can still catch up and even surpass the current level of attainment of most of these countries of reference. Come to think of it, the natural and human resources, the two main ingredients needed to galvanise the nation into economic and technological relevance still abound in Nigeria,” he posited

In his address, Mr. Akanji highlighted some basic functions of NISLT as determining the standard of knowledge, conducting inspections of SLT Departments in tertiary institutions and agencies, promoting the highest standard of competence and conducting research.