A University lecturer, Prof Anietie Ettee,  has called on the Federal Government to sponsor research as a means to move the country away from just being a consumer economy to a production one.

Ette of the University of Uyo made the call in Uyo at the 30th Inaugural Lecture of the university, entitled: “Materials Processing: The Art, The Science and You. “

The Professor of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering said that until the nation realised the importance that research played in the development of countries, attaining the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) would be a mirage.

According to him, the government should therefore take urgent steps to sponsor, support and encourage research in all forms.

Ette advised the government to also support indigenous research, especially in areas that impacted on local technology.

He noted that until the country realised the enormous human resources it had as potential creators of wealth, which needed to be managed to bring the best from them, it risked losing much of its wealth.

“We must become research-oriented to move from a consumer economy to a production economy. We must study and know indigenous technology for the development of this country.

“The level of technology of any country determines where it stands. Technology creates wealth, venture into technology and be counted.

“Let government sponsor research. Nigeria does not know the human resources it has.

“With the support of the World Bank, government should support indigenous research on the area that impacts on our environment. “

Ette maintained that over-dependence on oil had made the country think less of other resources.

Resources like agricultural resources; mining and mineral resources; synthetic or man made resources; industrial waste or by-products; and marine resources had been ignored, he lamented.

The professor explained that the problems with most local technologists, especially when it came to material unit processing, were size, separation, concentration, and refining processes.

Ette said that unless accurate measurement was obtained, processing would lead to error which could be fatal.

He maintained that if the right policies were properly implemented towards materials processing, that would help the government realise national security amid social and economic stability.

The don said the lecture was to propose to government the need to enact appropriate laws or policies that would encourage industries to develop and use local raw materials.

“Government is therefore called upon to note that technology is an instrument of change in the society.

“The level of technology utilisation in a nation is the measurement of economic independence and national security.

“Technology creates wealth, power and confidence; when engineering technology is utilised, it is protected from infringement,” Ette said.