Dr. Oluwole Olatunji is the director-general and chief executive of Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Nigeria’s foremost research institute. Olatunji joined the institute in 1974 as a research officer and rose through the ranks to become the director general/executive officer in 2001. He is certificated in over twenty academic fields and attended various institutions outside the country. He belongs to various professional bodies including Fellow Institute of Food Technologies, USA. He spoke to emeka okafor.
ICT, FIIRO and Research Activities
The institute has made use of Information and Communications Technology in a number of ways: accesses to information – Researchers have been able to go online to source for information on their projects, FIIRO on the web – through ICT, we have been able to showcase FIIRO and give access to the outside world to know FIIRO and her products in terms of its technological findings, collaboration – through the internet, organizations, individuals have  been  able to collaborate with the institute in the area of research.
Others are communication has been greatly improved on through intranet in FIIRO and the supervising agency and others online, grants have been received in aid of research and development through online contacts with international bodies such as UNIDO, World  Bank  and a host of others and training – research activities have been enhanced through training programs received online for our members of staff.
There are also consultancy – technology transfer activities has been improved through the aid of the internet, 90 per cent of the research & technical officers are computer literate through the Computer Appreciation training organized in-house by the Computer Section of the Institute and more than 60 per cent of the research & technical officers have their personal laptops which they use in their research activities.
Breakthroughs Recorded by FIIRO
FIIRO’s breakthroughs are indeed inexhaustible. Various technologies developed over the years have in no small way improved the wellbeing of Nigerians especially in the small and medium scale businesses.  To mention a few we have the soy-garri production, which helps to provide about 10 per cent protein content in Garri through its fortification by Soya beans; we also have detoxified cassava starch production, Glucose syrup from cassava starch, edible mushroom production, citric acid production, production of Biogas and Biofertilizer. FIIRO has also developed technologies for the production of baker’s yeast wine from local fruits and vegetables, Industrial enzymes, soy-ogi, bottling and preservation of palm wine.
We also had breakthroughs in the area of turning wastes to wealth. Maize and groundnut shells today can be used in the production of edible mushrooms that have high protein content. We also have adhesive from cow bone and lots more the popular 10 per cent cassava flour inclusion in wheat used for production, yam flour production, instant pounded yam flour, mechanized production of fufu flour.
Our project design and development department (Engineering) has developed machines locally such that  we have the Cabinet dryer, extruder, cassava mash mixer, solar dryer, cassava chipping machine, oil filter press, hydraulic press for cassava processing, groundnut sheller, cassava peeling machine etc.
Government’s Contribution towards Research and Development
Over the years government’s contributions in the area of science and technology cannot be ignored with the wave of the hand.  However it is clear that the challenges facing research and development (R & D) are an ever increasing one, so it is safe to say that government’s input in that area is not commensurate with the challenges.  Yet the government is aware of the goal and working tirelessly towards getting to the mark, in view of the attendant needs of the nation that is calling for government’s attention.
Challenges
As the ‘Chief Servant’ of Nigeria’s Foremost Research Institute (using    Mr. President’s style) a lot is expected from me. Starting from my responsibilities as a scientist and a researcher and as an administrator,   I try to ensure that each of these responsibilities don’t becloud the other.
Trying to meet up with the trend in Research and Development is another challenge in view of the Limited Resources made available and this leads us to the issue of funds.  The funds available for research are a far cry from what we actually need.  There is the need to train and retrain members of staff, attend international seminars, workshops and many more.  On the part of the government, more funds are actually needed to be able to recruit the needed manpower, create environment conducive for research and learning.  Support of government is needed in collaborating with international organizations.
What is FIIRO all About
The conception of the Institute was in 1953, when an economic mission sent to Nigeria by the World Bank.  One of the mission’s observations was that industrial research activities in Nigeria were diffused, uncoordinated, and with no definite direction.  Consequently, the mission recommended that an “Institute of Applied Technical Research” be set up.  This was established in 1956 by the then Minister for Commerce and Industry.  In February 1958, the name was changed to “Federal Institute of Industrial Research”. 
Initially, its supervisory Ministry was the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, but since then it has come under different supervisory bodies, the current one being the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, under which it came in January 1992.   FIIRO is vigorously pursuing these mandates /objectives: to conserve Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings by reducing dependence on foreign goods, through the development of local substitutes from locally available raw materials, to improve the nutritional qualities of Nigerian foods, and their suitability for industrial processing.
Others are to improve the indigenous, traditional techniques of food production which are labour-intensive, time consuming and energy sapping, to engage in the design and fabrication of machinery and equipment, development of foundry processes and materials, analysis of metallurgical materials, casting of iron and aluminium production, and machining of spare parts, processing of ceramic materials and other solid based minerals for industrial use, including development for ceramic glass and mineral technology, processing of local woods for pulp and paper making and other uses as well as technical, analytical and consultancy services for existing and planned industries and to  engage in technology transfer to the public through licensing training courses and capital goods acquisition.  To also offer consultancy services to individuals, public and private institutions in Nigeria and overseas.