Adeniyi Adebayo has lauded what he described as a positive impact of the government’s partnership with the private sector in the establishment of the Nigerian Sugar Institute.
Adebayo summited that the institute was ready for cutting-edge research and skills development in Nigeria.
He spoke at the commissioning of the institute in Ilorin, Kwara State, at the weekend, saying the institute was a testament to what public-private partnership can achieve.
According to the minister in a statement by his special assistant on media, Ifedayo Sayo, “The sugar industry holds a special place in Nigeria’s industrialisation story. It carries the expectations of creating over a hundred thousand jobs.”
He said the institute would provide a “cutting-edge research and development programmes that will catalyze the development of the sugar industry and enhance its viability, competitiveness, and sustainability; facilitate the dissemination, extension, adoption, and commercialisation of its research and development activities; and develop the human resources required to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of the Nigeria sugar industry.”
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Latif Busari, the executive secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, said the institute was a critical enabler for the implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), embodying three backup pillars that will support the drive for a virile and competitive sugar industry.
These include research, development & innovation; technical manpower development, and provision of clean and pure seed cane for growers, all based on the most advanced technologies available.
“As the industry regulator, the council may no longer directly engage in research and development or capacity development. Indeed, our enabling law requires the council to utilise the sugar levy to only support these critical activities. This is what we have been doing and will continue to do, within the constraints of available funds.”
