The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Mr. Uche Nnaji, says Nigeria must leverage the global nanotechnology market, which is expected to be worth 3 trillion dollars by 2025.
Nnaji said this at the 7th International Nanotechnology Conference on Wednesday in Abuja, with the theme “Nanotechnology in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Opportunities for Emerging Economies”.
The 4-day conference was organized by Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, in collaboration with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology.
Nnaji, represented by the Director-General of NASRDA, Dr. Halilu Shaba, said that nanotechnology was designed to solve problems and also to be commercialized for national growth and development.
“Nanotechnology is meant to solve problems, and in solving problems, you generate money.
“We are moving away from laboratory testing and identification of problems; we are now looking at areas where nanotechnology can be applied.
“Nanotechnology can be applied to all spheres of life, like medicine, food, agriculture, and a lot more, and as the world gets lighter, products are getting smaller, which should be our focus.
“When we say there is a market that would be worth about three trillion dollars by 2025 in the area of nanotechnology, where is Nigeria going to benefit from this industry because we need to take part in it?” he said.
The minister said that nanotechnology had the capacity to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda of poverty alleviation, making lives easier by boosting agriculture, improving healthcare, and creating jobs.
Shaba also made a comment as the DG, NASDRA, saying that there was a need to synthesize nanoparticles, which were having great impacts on manufacturing.
He said the agency had done some work in the synthesis of nanoparticles, which were used to develop batteries with high storage capacity, enhanced waterproofed cement, and textile materials.
According to him, the products are undergoing patenting while the agency is currently working with a reputable technology company to commercialize them.
The Lead, NANO+ Group of LAUTECH, Prof. Agbaje Lateef, earlier said that Nigeria, with its large repository of natural and intellectual resources, could deploy nanotechnology for growth and development in manufacturing products and rendering services.
Lateef also said the conference was aimed at highlighting the global role of nanotechnology in growth and development.
“Nanotechnology can contribute trillions of dollars to the world economy, and by 2030, it is going to account for 10 percent of the global gross domestic product.
“It has also been projected to generate about six million jobs from the synthesis of nanomaterials, the application of nanomaterials, producing goods, and enhancing existing products,” he said.
He said Nigeria could be a prime country in the production of nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, nanochitin, and nanosilica from agro-waste and a potent tool to deliver on Sustainable Development Goals.
He said the steps needed to leverage the development of nanotechnology included a national policy on nanotechnology and the prioritization of funding for research.
He also said nanotechnology development would require the establishment of centers of excellence in nanotechnology and a dedicated agency, council, or department for nanotechnology research and development.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said the application of nanotechnology could aid research and have an impact on operations in the North East and the fight against insurgency.
Abubakar, represented by AVM Ndubisi Okoro, said that defense aircraft carry rocket launchers, and in their research efforts to reproduce rocket launchers, there was a need for lighter rocket launchers.
“The rule of flying says the lighter the aircraft, the better, and that is what we call it. Lift-to-weight ratio, which means you have an advantage in weight, so you achieve a better lift.
“Nanotechnology has to do with miniaturizing or compacting a larger size into a smaller size.
“We will find it relevant because we will be able to reduce the size of certain components that are bulky for enhanced research efforts.
“We are going to invite the LAUTECH team for a formal presentation to the Air Force; possibly the Chief of Air Staff will be available, as will all stakeholders in the Air Force.
“We can discuss how we can leverage nanotechnology to impact our current research effort, which will definitely impact our current operations in the North East and in fighting insurgencies,” he said.
The acting Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH, Prof. Razaq Kalilu,said that, owing to research efforts, the university had been ranked 11th in Nigeria by the Times Higher Education of the UK.
Kalilu said that the university had supported nanotechnology activities in Nigeria and deserved empowerment for greater achievements.
He appealed to the federal government to establish a Center of Excellence in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the university.
The Coordinating Director at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Umar Gaya, said the automation and robotization of the corresponding technology systems should be strategically addressed in line with 4.0 developments.
Gaya added that Nigerian universities, research bodies, and industries needed to come together to develop a formidable system through nanotechnology.
