NACETEM considers manufacturing boats out of fiberglass

The National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) says it is actively leading initiatives to catalyze the development of fibreglass boat manufacturing in Nigeria.

The Director General of NACETEM, Dr Olushola Odusanya, stated this on the sidelines of a Global Science, Technology and Innovation Conference organised by NACTEM in Abuja with the theme “Unlocking the Potential of Market-Ready Technological Solutions for Blue Economy in Nigeria.”

Odusanya stated that wooden boats were nice, but the world had migrated to the use of fiberglass boats.

“It is not a technological problem but a problem of us coming together. That is the reason why we have put people in this room; to discuss how we can start using fibreglass boats,” he said.

Fiberglass boats are lighter than wooden vessels, which makes them more efficient on the water and easier to handle. Additionally, fiberglass boats require less maintenance, which can help to keep overall costs down over time.

The NACETEM director-general said the conference was also to discuss how knowledge of welding and foundry, among others, could help achieve the goal.

According to him, in the long run, the endeavour will metamorphose into carriage for trains and other vessels.

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“Let’s get this one right first. Related to blue economy, it is crystal clear in my mind that this is one area that we can actually build wealth, and we have highly trainable people.” Odusanya said.

He explained that the conference was about “setting up the nuts and bolts of blue economy.”

The director-general pointed out that though the national policy on the development of blue economy and the pathway to follow was clear, operators of the blue economy still needed to come together for corporate knowledge.

He said the conference also afforded the opportunity for participants to learn from what other countries were doing, which would provide a clear vision for Nigeria’s blue economy

A blue economy is an economic system or sector that seeks to conserve marine and freshwater environments while using them in a sustainable way to develop economic growth.

Odusanya hinted that the relationship between agriculture and environmental husbandry would also be brought forward.

Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, Secretary General, Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) noted that Nigeria was one of the most naturally endowed nations in the world. He said one of the endowments was the blue economy and the capacity to harness it.

Ndubuaku urged the government to allocate funds to research to drive the blue economy and other research that would fast-track national progress.