Why Nigeria should leverage nanotechnology market - Minister

Chief Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology says Nigeria must leverage the global nanotechnology market which is expected to worth 3trillion 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 organised 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 commercialised 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 need to synthesise nanoparticles which were making great impacts in manufacturing.

He said the agency had done some works in synthesisation of nanoparticles which were used to develop batteries with high storage capacity, 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 large repository of natural and intellectual resources could deploy nanotechnology for growth and development in manufacturing products and rendering of 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 production of nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, nanochitin and nanosilica from agro wastes and a potent tool to deliver on Sustainable Development Goals.

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 establishment of Centres of Excellence in nanotechnology and dedicated agency, council or department to nanotechnology Research and Development.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said application of nanotechnology could aid research and impact on the operations in the North East and the fight against insurgency.

Abubakar, represented by AVM Ndubisi Okoro, said that defence aircraft carry rocket launchers and in their research efforts to reproduce rocket launchers, there was need for lighter rocket launchers.

“The rule of flying says the lighter the aircraft, the better and that is what we call it Lift to Weight Ratio which means you have an advantage of weight, so you achieve a better lift.

“Nanotechnology has to do with miniaturising or compacting a larger size to a smaller size.

“We will find it relevant because we will be able to reduce the size of certain components that are bulky for enhanced research efforts.

“We are going to invite the LAUTECH team for a formal presentation to the Air Force possibly the Chief of Air Staff will be available and all stakeholders in the Air Force.

“We can discuss on how we can leverage on nanotechnology to impact on our current research effort which will definitely impact on our current operations in the North East and in fighting insurgency,” he said.

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.

Kalilu said that the university had supported nanotechnology activities in Nigeria and deserved empowerment for greater achievements.

He appealed to the federal government to establish a Centre of Excellence in NanoScience and Nanotechnology in the university.

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