2 October 2008
Lagos — Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) has entered into partnership with a South African firm, Merck Chemicals for manpower development especially in science laboratory technology in Nigeria.
The pact, the NISLT director-general, Dr. Folorunso Ighodalo, said was line with the actualisation of the seven-agenda of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's administration in boosting science and technology in the country.
The deal, which will see to the training of Nigerian laboratory scientists and technologists on modern science equipment would begin this year with an inter-national workshop on laboratory safety.
"We look forward to a partnership that is productive and fruitful in promoting science and technology in the country. It is our sectoral mandate to use science to drive the economy and the laboratory is a vital link to make things work. The functionality of the laboratory depends on the standard of equipment found and it also goes a long way in determining the quality and standard of results produced", Dr. Ighodalo said.
The leader of the delegation, Mr. Chris Fick the said firm which has 55 branches across the worldwide would partner with Nigeria based on the present government's approach to good work ethics, anti-corruption, due-process and rule of law.
"When we look for partnership , we only look for people who can uphold the laws of their country and have the same ethical background with our company and we have found that in Katchey Company Limited, with which we have already formed a partnership", he noted.
The firm's country representative,Mr. Steve Coetzee, commended NILST for embarking on standardization of laboratories in Nigeria, saying it was one of the factors that facilitated the partnership.
"Our mission is to get involved in correcting the standardization process of laboratories in the country since results from these laboratories are used in companies that manufacture food and drugs which add value human lives.
"Since NISLT is a body charged with the regulation and standardization process of these laboratories, we deem it fit to partner with it, and to also give it support and integrate laboratory techniques in such a way that the right equipment and chemicals will be used in generating reliable results".
Managing Director of Katchey Company Limited and facilitator of the project, Mr. Ademola Aderoju who had earlier stressed the importance of science and technology to the nation's developmental breakthroughs, commended NISLT for helping to project the country's image as a place where things work.
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