The Society of Testing Laboratory Analysts of Nigeria (SoTLAN) has called for a collaborative effort with the government to upgrade Nigerian laboratories to global standards.
Speaking on Friday during a press conference in Lagos ahead of the 5th annual conference of public analysts, themed: 21st Century Laboratory and Allied Businesses: Leveraging Collaboration and Partnership, cuts across the various problems that confront testing analytical laboratory business in Nigeria, Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, SoTLAN president said.
He said: “Most of these problems include inadequate capacity utilisation, limited resources, extremely low patronage, unethical pricing competition, and many others, most of which are not experienced by their counterparts and other African countries like Eygpt, Kenya, Ghana, etc.”
“As a result, many of our local laboratories cannot compete adequately while foreign-based laboratories are catching on to the situation to milk the nation dry through an avoidable capital fight and exorbitant price regime,” he said.
According to him, it is one thing to be enlighted about the need for analysis of products, it is another thing to know the right professionals and designated laboratories for people to consult. For these laboratories to be more efficient, there is a need for collaboration for future benefits.
The conference which is slated to hold from June 13 to June 15, at Ostra Halls and Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos will address these challenges.
Ogunmoyela said the sub-theme of the conference will revolve around discussions on validation technologies and integrity assurance: The need for collaboration, a panel discussion session on the digital economy and the laboratory business to be moderated by Folashade Oluwabamiwo, and laboratory information management system(LIMS) in a 21st-century laboratory.
Other activities during the conference include a laboratory fair and exhibition, with over twenty companies registered in the area of sales of laboratory equipment and provision of laboratory support.
Student quiz competition featuring students from various universities under a panel session held by Babatunde Odesanya, with prizes awarded to the three most outstanding institutions, and lots more.
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The opening ceremony of the conference will be headlined by Oladapo Afolabi, former head of service of the federation and a fellow of the board of trustees of SoTLAN. While the keynote address will be delivered by Jean-Marc Ricca, country CEO of BASF for country cluster West Africa.
In addition, Ogunmoyela said this is an opportunity to draw the attention of the new government to the development of the Nigerian laboratories, stating that “What cannot be measured cannot be validated.”
