How we support, equip Nigerian SMEs — FIIRO DG

Gloria Elemo, director-general and chief executive officer of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), says the institute does not frustrate the micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria, but rather support, promote and equip them with 21st century research and machines needed for industrial revolution in the country.

Elemo is reacting to a BusinessDay story published on Monday, April 9, 2018, entitled, ‘How FIIRO directors frustrate Nigerian SMEs’.

The report centred on how Jon Kachikwu, chief executive of Jon Tudy Interbiz, a small-scale export firm, allegedly paid for groundnut roasting and dehuller machines in 2015 at FIIRO but could not get them about three years after. Kachikwu had raised an alarm over how he paid N950, 000 into the institute’s account for the fabrication of the two machines but received them in bad condition. In other words, the machines were supplied but were faulty, prompting him to return them to the institute. Kachikwu had said that since that the repair was not done timely, the only rational thing the institute should do was to refund him.

But speaking to BusinessDay, Elemo said Kachikwu’s application for the said machines did not come to her table and did not go through the normal process.

“He was brought to look at a host of equipment and he decided to go for the groundnut roaster and the dehuller. It is a whole series of equipment, and it is only those two that had problems. We didn’t have his papers and the application did not come to my table, yet when he ran into that problem, I was notified and I quickly zeroed in. I know the engineer he was working with as a staff member, and we didn’t want unnecessary issues.

“So, when the machines had issues, they were taken straight to the fabrication laboratory and we discovered that it was not a FIIRO design. It was fabricated outside, and not in FIIRO. Yet I took it as a personal project and it was installed for him. I think he had a small problem and he wanted a refund, which I told him that he could get. But as at the time he was putting pressure on us for the refund, we were not ready and did not have the necessary funds.”

Elemo said that things should always be done properly and people should route their requests through the director-general.

“We wanted to assist him because we wanted to encourage industrialisation in Nigeria.

“What is paramount now is that we should be able to give him functional machines, which we have tried to do. Nevertheless, we will still discuss these things. We told him, these are not contracts. If they are paper works, he will sign an agreement. All those things were not spelt out. For the DG herself to be on the fabrication floor to ensure that those pieces of equipment were properly fabricated, I think he should be more grateful,” Elemo explained.

According to her, FIIRO has supported so many industries and SMEs that are running today across the country.

“As far as FIIRO is concerned, and as far as industrialisation is concerned, we have done a lot to catalyse it in Nigeria.

“This error by commission or omission on Kachikwu’s part should not be used to bring down the efforts of the federal government in making sure that that industrialisation takes root. The machines have been ready. We have the engineers that installed them. I think he is no more interested in that process any more, but we cannot force him. So he can get his money back, though the money was not totally put into the institute. People should learn to route their requests through office of the DG,” she added.

ODINAKA ANUDU