Nigeria has entered into an agreement with three companies on the promotion of indigenous research on food seasonings and ready to use traditional soups.

The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the companies to commercialise indigenous food products.

The MoU is to guide the companies on commercialisation of indigenous research and breakthroughs on food.

It would also guide publicity and creation of awareness for the promotion and utilization of indigenous research and development breakthroughs.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, said the effort was to enhance the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and close technological gaps in industries.

The companies are Tiger foods Limited, Lensof Konsult and Lashone Links Communications Limited.

“The commitment of the present administration is to strengthen the economy through promotion of innovative technologies that will reduce import dependence, enhance local content and strengthen self-sufficiency,” he said.

The minister assured the three companies of the ministry’s support.

In her remarks, FIIRO Director-General, Prof. Gloria Elemo, said that the institute was committed to ensuring effective commercialisation of indigenous research and development, to bail out the nation of the economy recession.

“In the process of commercialisation of indigenous technologies, jobs will be created, wealth will be generated, foreign exchange will be conserved and national GDP will be enhanced through the productive sector of the economy.”

She said the institute took advantage of the increasing need for convenient food products to upgrade its R&D and packaged them in forms ready for immediate commercialisation.

The institute, she said, had developed recipes, including jollof rice, fried rice, beans porridge, and yam porridge which had been made available in packaged forms with homemade food tastes after preparation. (NAN)

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