Minister of State, Science, Technology and Innovation has inaugurated a plant for the production of adhesive and binders at the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) Zaria.
The plant is to produce adhesive and binders that will be used on leather, shoes Wood, Paper, Textile Paints/coatings and allied products to strengthen and revamp the economy.
The minister who was in Zaria for a two-day working visit inaugurated 13 other projects which include a building for the pilot plant for production of precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) for pharmaceutical and allied industries.
Others are the model plant for the production of fuel using plants, tyres, and plastics (pyrolysis), upgraded Library Complex and renovated and refurbish Library conference hall.
He also inaugurated a 1.25tons per hour dryer for Micro-Organic fertilizer Production and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive decontamination facilities among others.
Abdullahi said the ministry would strengthen the collaboration with entrepreneurs and other key stakeholders to commercialise and scaling up the research findings and innovations of the institute.
While commending the director general of the institute and his team for the great achievement, the minister pledged to lead cause towards ensuring that the institute gets increase funding towards beefing research and development projects.
Earlier, the Interim Chairman, Governing Board Alhaji Tasiu Gano, NARICT commended the minister for the visit adding that the board would do everything possible within its power to ensure that the institute achieve its mandate.
Similarly, the Director-General NARICT Prof. Jeffery Barnabas said the massive infrastructural expansion at the institute has brought the rapid transformation of the institute’s landscape based on its original master plan as more laboratories and related infrastructure is to support research.
He noted that the milestone was made possible by a strategic plan of research into cutting-edge chemical technologies underpinned by 21st challenges at NARICT.
COV/Ibrahim Suleiman