The Director General of Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, FIIRO, Dr.
Gloria Elemo, has said that an estimated 1,500 small and medium scale enterprises
are expected to be set up across the country in the next one year through the 250
Research and Development (R&) technologies/outputs developed by the institute.
Speaking ahead of the Investment and
Technology Week being put together by the
institute, she said that not less than 50,000
direct job opportunities will also be created
following the adoption of the technologies by
the 774 local government areas in the
nation, even as she said that 75,000
entrepreneurs have so far benefited from
FIIRO technology transfer.
She noted that the 250 R& outputs to be
showcased at the four days event, which
kicked off today (Tuesday, October 14, 2014), would also spur more Foreign Direct
Investment, FDI, interest into the country.
Elemo added that the investment week is part of the institute’s effort to deliver
more effectively on its mandate for rapid industrialization of the national economy,
as well as create employment opportunities to reverse the worsening unemployment in
the country.
“The overall aim of the programme is to showcase the institutes over 250 R&
outputs suitable for investment by micro, small, medium and large scale
entrepreneurs to enhance job creation and improve on the national Gross Domestic
Products.
“We are hoping that at least 35 technologies would be well structured and adopted in
all the local governments, which is 774. So, the projection is that if every local
government tries to adopt at least two technologies, we will have a total of about
2,000 jobs each.
“When you look at others that are coming in to buy into the technologies, various
commercial organisations, students coming in, National Association of Nigeria
Students, NANS, organizations like SURE-P and other organized sectors, we are
expecting that minimum expected jobs that can come out of this catalyst should be at
least 250,000. This will definitely reduce unemployment level in the country,” she
said.
“We just concluded training of a number of youths on our National Techno-
entrepreneurs Initiative, but our target is 2,000 youths on annual basis as part of our
contribution to national development and corporate social responsibility programme, to
transfer technology to them and also lead them to proper infrastructure that will
definitely establish them on the field.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/fg-promote-creation-1500-smes-via-new-technologies/