BY: Oliseama Okwuchukwu
The Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has called on the Organized Private Sector to help in commercializing viable inventions and innovations in the country.
Dr. Onu made the call when an inventor, Dr. Roland Iwu Amadi, the inventor of Iwu Crystal Ceiling Board (ICCB) presented his invention to the Honorable Minister in his office on April 9, in Abuja.
Dr. Onu said the Federal government will continue to encourage Nigerian Inventors and Innovators in a bid to put in place a science and innovation driven economy.
Dr. Onu said that the government has a programme that encourages inventors all over Nigeria by giving financial grants to encourage creative and innovative invention to improve on their research works. According to him, this is the best way small businesses can be created and made to grow into large businesses.
He called on the organized private sectors to commercialize the Iwu Crystal Ceiling Board invention by entering into Memorandum of Understanding MoU or outright buying off of the technology to encourage him to do more.
The invention, according to Dr. Onu is a major breakthrough for the housing industry in line with the vision of the Executive Order 5 which gives preference to Nigerian professionals and Innovators.
Earlier in his presentation, Dr. Rowland Iwu who started work on his project in 1961 at the age of 16 said that he has exhibited the invention in several countries, including USA, England and exhibited in trade fairs in kaduna, Enugu and Lagos. .
Dr. Iwu further said that he has received recognition from USA and England for his contribution to scientific development in the world and called on the Federal government to grant him national award in recognition of his scientific breakthrough.
The Iwu Crystal Ceiling Board invention with patent right no NG/P/2012/707 is the first authentic Grassfire Ceiling Tiles made in Nigeria. It does not rot and it is fire and weather proof.