Agu and members of PRODA mgt.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, Hon. Donatus Agu says the institute is in the forefront of the Technological innovations in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He said this while addressing Journalists after the familiarisation tour of the board to the facilities at the Institute in Enugu.
Agu, who was a former Commissioner for Education in Abia State, said that the board members were in the facility to see things for themselves, as well as to meet with both management and staff.
“PRODA will no longer be in history; it is going to be in the forefront of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, that will advance Nigeria’s technology agenda.
“I am here to partner with you; to solve problems; and together we take PRODA to the highest level, ” he said.
He described the products being produced by PRODA as fantastic and technology driven, adding that the Federal Government will do all that is desirable to encourage more research and development in the institute.
He said that the Federal Government was determined to make PRODA the pacesetter in Nigeria’s quest for technological advancement and the benchmark for assessing the country’s technological development.
He called on the private sector to partner with the institute to harness it’s technological breakthroughs for the good of Nigeria and Nigerians, adding that “a lot is going on here.”
The board chairman commended the management of the institute led by Dr Engr. Peter Ogbobe for their industriousness and pledged government’s total support for the agency to realising Nigeria technology growth.
He said that with the Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA), Nigeria could not remain where it was, especially in the area of technological advancement.
He enjoined all partners including the media to orchestrate the activities of PRODA to enable Nigerians, particularly those in the private sector to patronise it’s products.
Speaking, the Director-General of the institute, Dr Peter Ogbobe thanked the Chairman and members of the board for finding time to visit PRODA to see things for themselves.
Ogbobe said that since his assumption of office on 4th June 2022, the institute had carried out advocacy for value reorientation, as well as improved Research and Development activities.
“We have always embraced the system of technology of participatory methods where all hands are engaged, ” he said.
According to him, in recent times, PRODA had focused most of it’s energy in design and development of agro-produce processing machines.
He said: “It has progressed from development of single unit operation machines for semi-mechanised processes to development of machines for fully mechanisms flow-line with semi-automation. “
Ogbobe said that in addition to carrying out the research works outlined, PRODA had also carried out the training of staff and capacity building to empower staff with research tools like laptops and computers.
“We have launched a fibre optics cables to boost internet capabilities with the view to improving research and development efforts of the institute, ” Ogbobe said.
