The Minister of Science and Technology (FMST) Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has urged the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology to maintain high standards on food security in order to advance Nigeria’s market globally.
He made this statement when the Institute led by the National President professor Owe Maduebibisi paid him a work visit on Thursday, in Abuja.
According to Onu, that the ministry is determined to move the economy from depending on raw materials and natural resources to depend more on knowledge which in turn would be used to convert the raw material abundantly available in the country to products and services that is needed as a nation which is presently imported into the country.
“If we aren’t working hard as a nation to create jobs, we will find it hard to employ our youths in addition, our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can be far higher than where it is presently if we can reduce importation and encourage local products of which we use as a nation.
Food security, is of good importance in a nation like ours. Nigeria must be in a position to feed herself because with our large population if we can’t feed ourselves, we will definitely create problem not only for ourselves but the world at large,” Onu added.
The FMST boss further said that the sector critically maintaining standards will benefit the nation exporting Nigerian meals to those in diaspora and to the extent of making foreigners patronise the products because no one will like to export or import bad goods.
“We must make sure we maintain standards and in the process maintain safety of same which is important. This is where this institute is very important in Nigeria, by this you will practice your profession, help us maintain standards and help and help us get food security for the nation and then the Africa free trade training with quotation of 1.2 billion people just Africa alone, once we can maintain high standards. We can be sure to maintain the high level we desire and same time advance our dear nation, Africa and then the global market and then you now know the importance of this institute.”
Earlier, the National President Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology Professor Iwe Maduebibisi appealed to the Minister for their Council to be inaugurated so that members of the profession in Nigeria who have been eager to function would begin to enjoy the privileges of the Charter.
