Minister harps on economic benefits of nanotechnology

Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, says the country must leverage the global nanotechnology market which is expected to worth 3 trillion dollars by 2025.

Nnaji said this at the 7th International Nanotechnology conference on Wednesday in Abuja, with the theme “Nanotechnology in Fourth Industrial Revolution: Opportunities for Emerging Economies”.

The 4-day conference was organized by Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, in collaboration with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

Nnaji, represented by Dr Halilu Shaba, the Director-General of NASRDA, said that nanotechnology was designed to solve problems and also to be commercialized for national growth and development.

“Nanotechnology is meant to solve problems and in solving problems you generate money. We are moving away from laboratory testing, identification of problems, we are now looking at areas where nanotechnology can be applied.

“Nanotechnology can be applied to all spheres of life like medicine, food, agriculture and a lot more and the world is getting lighter, products are getting smaller, which should be our focus.

“When we say there is a market that would be worth about three trillion dollars by 2025 in the area of nanotechnology, where is Nigeria going to benefit from this industry because we need to take part of it,” he said.

The minister said that nanotechnology had the capacity to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda of poverty alleviation, making lives easier by boosting agriculture, improving healthcare and job creation.

Shaba, also made a comment as the DG, NASDRA, saying that there was the need to synthesise nanoparticles which were making great impacts in manufacturing.

He said the agency had done some work in synthesizing nanoparticles which were used to develop batteries with high storage capacity, and enhanced waterproofed cement and textile materials.

According to him, the products are undergoing patenting while the agency is currently working with a reputable technology company to commercialise its products.

Prof. Agbaje Lateef, Lead, NANO+ Group of LAUTECH, earlier, said that Nigeria with a large repository of natural and intellectual resources could deploy nanotechnology for growth and development in manufacturing products and rendering services.

Lateef also said the conference was aimed at highlighting the global role of nanotechnology in growth and development.

“Nanotechnology can contribute trillions of dollars to the world economy and by 2030; it is going to account for the 10 per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product.

“It has also been projected to generate about six million jobs from synthesis of nanomaterials, applied nanomaterials, producing goods, enhancing existing products,” he said.

He said Nigeria could be a prime country in the production of nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, nano chitin and nano-silica from agro wastes and a potent tool to deliver on Sustainable Development Goals.

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He said the steps needed to leverage development of nanotechnology, included a national policy on nanotechnology and prioritization of funding for research.

He also said nanotechnology development would require the establishment of Centres of Excellence in nanotechnology and a dedicated agency, council or department to nanotechnology Research and Development.
In his contribution, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said the application of nanotechnology could aid research and impact the operations in the North East and the fight against insurgency.

Prof. Razaq Kalilu, the acting Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH said that owing to research efforts, the university had been ranked 11th in Nigeria by the Times Higher Education of the UK.
Prof. Umar Gaya, the Coordinating Director at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) said the automation and robotisation of the corresponding technology systems should be strategically addressed in line with 4.0 developments.

Gaya added that Nigerian universities, research bodies and industries needed to come together to have a formidable system developed through nanotechnology.