The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has reaffirmed its commitment to working with the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) to promote local chemical production and technical research in Nigeria. This was made known by the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, during a courtesy visit by NARICT’s management team to the NBTE headquarters.
Prof. Bugaje described NARICT as “the nation’s arrowhead in technical research and innovation,” highlighting the institute’s key role in Nigeria’s technological development. He explained that with the right collaboration, NARICT can play a huge part in advancing high-quality technical education and research in the country.
Speaking on the new leadership at NARICT, Prof. Bugaje expressed confidence in the institute’s direction. “The new DG is a seasoned Chemical Engineer, and I am optimistic that he will deliver on the institute’s mandate,” he stated. He further assured the NARICT delegation of NBTE’s full support, especially in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s technical education sector.
Prof. Bugaje stressed the urgent need for Nigeria to reduce its dependence on imported chemicals, especially those used for education and industrial purposes. He pointed out that with NARICT’s existing capacity, the country should already be producing its own chemical reagents. “I want to see NARICT-branded reagents on the bottles used for practicals in our secondary schools. NARICT has a lot of potential,” he added.
The NBTE boss revealed that plans are underway to establish a joint committee between NBTE and NARICT. The committee will explore possible areas of collaboration to boost local production, research, and innovation. This step is seen as a major move towards reducing Nigeria’s reliance on foreign products, promoting self-reliance, and strengthening technical manpower development.
On his part, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NARICT expressed appreciation to NBTE for its continuous support. He acknowledged Prof. Bugaje’s mentorship, stating that the experience gained from him during his own time as NARICT DG has been invaluable.
The NARICT DG promised to revitalize the institute’s Research Committee, describing it as “the core engine for driving innovation and development at NARICT.” He stressed that all research projects must go through the committee to ensure they align with national development priorities, including critical areas like reverse engineering.
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Both institutions have agreed to deepen their collaboration to promote homegrown solutions, improve research capacity, and support Nigeria’s educational and industrial development.