Expert urges lab technicians to embrace improvisation

Mr Emmanuel Oloyade, Senior Lecturer, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, has called on Nigerian technicians to embrace improvisation of science laboratory items using local raw materials to achieve better results.

The polytechnic lecturer made the call on Thursday at the closing of a weeklong training of laboratory technicians held at Federal Science Equipment Centre (FSEC), Ijanikin, Lagos.

Supreme in reports that more than 40 laboratory technicians participated in the training which was facilitated by Federal Ministry of Education and FSEC.

According to Oloyade, technology is acquired either by invention, transfer or stolen to advance the course of a people.

“Enough materials are readily available; all that we need to do is to get the foreign prototype of such item dismantle it and study the components and improvise with local materials based on knowledge acquired,” he said.

Also speaking at the session, FSEC Director, Mr Yekini Ismaila, said the training would reduce trainees’ reliance on importation of items which personnel could improvise to enhance technical knowledge.

“You are expected to train others in your places of work to ensure that this technical knowledge is passed to people in order to improve output and reduce cost of equipment importation,”

“The human capital development session will revitalise the education sector to produce school leavers that can add value to the real sector for national growth and development,” he said.

The training, with the theme “Training on Development of an Instruction Manual and Preparation of a Practical Manual”, was aimed at enhancing capacity on laboratory equipment handling and laboratory tools fabrication.

It trained personnel on how to use locally sourced materials to maintain and fabricate equipment for experiments instead of depending on importation.

It focused on simple tools fabrication, such as test tubes, furnace, electric motors, energy storage components and others that enhance laboratory works in post primary institutions.

Supreme reports that FSEC was established in 1971 following a tripartite agreement with UNESCO and UNDP to provide national programmes of care, repairs and maintenance of secondary school science equipment to extend their life span.

It also aimed at upgrading the skills and career prospects of graduates of laboratory assistants and offer courses to laboratory technicians.