Lagos — The National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) Zaria, Kaduna State has called for collaborative efforts with the Nigerian Army in the production of various chemicals and technologies that have bearing on Nigerians.

The Director-General of NARICT, Dr. Ebenezer M. Okonkwo stated this on Tuesday, when a team from the Defence Headquarters led by Chief of Defence, Research and Development, Major-Gen. Danmadami Dyaji visited the institute.

Research and Development, said Dr. Okonkwo, is one of the major indices of measuring the capability of a nation towards self-sustenance.

He stressed the importance of chemical technology noting that the institute could play an important role in the industrial transformation of Nigeria.

"The more the technologies are understood and domesticated, the more confident the nation is, in its sovereignty. NARICT, therefore has a catalytic role to play in the industrial transformation of Nigeria. We have accordingly made gradual progress in the production of various chemicals and technologies that have great bearing on the life of Nigerians," he said.

He stressed that NARICT is capable of using its technology and research to create jobs, alleviate poverty, reduce import and foreign exchange as well as the overall industrialization of Nigeria through the provision of industrial raw materials and intermediate inputs.

Dr. Okonkwo disclosed that NARICT was collaborating with the Defence Ministry in the supply of military boots for the purpose of building research-based technological, competence in boots production and making the knowledge available for commercial enterprise so that Nigeria would become self-sufficient in the production of high-quality and competitive security boots.

He said the specific mandates of NARICT include training and research in the conversion of local raw materials such as hide and skin, Neem seeds and others into wealth-creating chemicals and offering of consultancy and extension services in the area of leather technology transfer to the private sector.

The NARICT boss stated further that the institute is also involved in the, design, development and production of chemical and leather industry machinery and equipment, processing of commercial-grade chemicals, natural and man-made fibres, among numerous others, adding that in order to discharge these mandates effectively, the institute established extension centres in Jos, Kano, Maiduguri for the purpose of making various chemical technologies available to local entrepreneurs and stakeholders.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Maj. Gen. Dyaji noted the long standing relationship that existed between the army and NARICT stressing that the Institute possesses the potential of transforming Nigeria into a nation to be reckoned with.

He said it was because of the quality of NARICT's products that the Nigerian Army commissioned it to produce army boots some years ago.

Major-Gen. Dyaji, who called for cooperation between the army and the institute, stressed that if the potential of the Institute was harnessed, Nigeria would catch up with the developed nations."Those countries that have advanced are not better than us" he said. Gen. Dyaji also stressed the need to motivate the staff of the Institute in order to make them more productive and committed to duty adding that the army would continue to maintain the relationship with the Institute.

Also in his remarks, the Chairman of NARICT's Governing Board, Mr. Charles S. Ugwu, thanked the army for patronizing the institute adding that the Institute was prepared to collaborate with the Nigerian Army to contribute to the development of the country.

Mr. Ugwu who noted that although the institute was constrained by its mandate, efforts would be made to execute such mandate in a rational and more efficient manner.

He added that the Institute is prepared to collaborate with the army for the training of laboratory technicians and other technical staff.

Other members of the team who toured facilities at the institute include Air Commodore S.I. Tommey, Director Research; Commodore P.A. Oladipo, Director Development; Group Capt. C.U. Chiedu, Deputy Director Coordination/Planning; Col. T.Y. Gaiya, Deputy Director Equipment Maintenance; Dr. I.S. Ihidero of the Planning Research and Statistics Department, (Ministry of Defence) and Col. I.B. Adaramoye, Director, Research and Development Centre, DICON. Others are Brig.-General A.M. Jibril, Commandant Nigerian Army School of Military Police, Basawa, Zaria, and Lt. Col. M.O. Inyang, Commanding Officer 11 Field Engineers Regime.