A lecturer in the Department of Materi-als and Metallurgical Engineering of the University of Ilorin, Prof Jamiu Odusote, has advised the Federal Government to enact laws to promote patronising local products and innovations.
Odusote gave the advice  in his paper presentation at the 246th Inaugural Lecture of the university, entitled: “Engineering Materials Development as Catalyst For Innovation”, in Ilorin recently.
He asserted that government Ministries, Agencies, Departments and parastatals should be mandated to patronise research products from universities and institutes.
“This will encourage the development of novel materials for the advancement of human lives and the economy of the nation.
“The only way to improve our locally developed products is by getting feedbacks from the end-users”, he said.
The don, who teaches in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, stated that technology has a major role in developing and solving the precarious problem of Nigeria’s scientific growth.
According to him, it was paramount for researchers to turn attention to developing Nigeria’s local raw materials/mineral resources in providing solutions to the prevailing problem of energy, power, unemployment, insecurity and economic downturn.
“To review Engineering curricular to meet the societal and industry needs is very important in order to make graduates make-ready and contribute positively to national development and societal growth”, he said.
The expert postulated that revitalisation of Ajaokuta Steel Complex and other metal companies becomes imperative for the country.
He explained that steel and other metal products remained the major engineering materials for structural application.
Odusote described Nigeria as a country with a lot of infrastructural deficits and poor industrialisation.
“The government must vigorously pursue the development of the metal sector of the economy in order to reduce the country’s dependence on imported metal products for development”, he said.