The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) says it has completed preparation for commercialisation of three of its research findings.
The minister, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, disclosed this in Abuja.
Onu said that the ministry had recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with May and Baker Nigeria Plc on commercialisation of some nutraceutical and therapeutic food products. Nutraceuticals is a broad term used to describe any product derived from food sources with extra health benefits, in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foods.
Therapeutic is a medical treatment of any kind, the results of which are judged to be desirable and beneficial. According to him, two of the technologies developed by Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), an institute under the ministry are currently of interest to the management of May and Baker Nigeria Plc. Onu said that nutraceutical and therapeutic food products were developed under the institute’s Health and Nutrition Research Programme.
“The products have been evaluated and found to be potent in eliminating or reducing the effect of health and nutrition challenges confronting the Africa continent.
“May and Baker Nigeria Plc is chosen based on its integrity and effort to promote health sector globally, “ he said. Onu revealed that the nutraceutical product, a food supplement, had been fully analysed scientifically, tested and found potent for managing sickle cell anaemia. He said that detailed scientific studies had been carried out on the product. The minister said the product would help in alleviating pains of over 40 million people among the black race suffering from sickle cell disease. He said that the Ready-to-Use Therapeutical Food basically from indigenous raw materials would be useful for treating Severe Acute Malnutrition. Onu said that the third MoU that was signed was meant to provide a strategic guide for the collaboration between the FMST, Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi and Nasco Foods Ltd., Jos.
He said that the MoU was on commercial production of High Nutrient Density Biscuit. “The initiative was also an innovation of FIIRO for the National School Feeding Programme in the spirit of the Public-Private Partnership promoted by the Federal Government of Nigeria,’’ he said.
.vanguard
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