The Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) has attributed the low level of trading activities in Nigeria to the shortage of laboratories which could have aided the manufacturing sector.
The institute, whose members are professionals, trained, registered and authorized to carry out laboratory analysis on consumer and health-related products, noted that many countries are ahead of Nigeria in terms of manufacturing.
National President of the institute, Dr. Dahiru Adamu, who briefed newsmen on the 21st Mandatory Training Workshop tagged, “Your Laboratory, your Business” held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, lamented that Nigeria, which is the greatest economy in Africa, can only boast of two accredited laboratories.
He said South Africa has 340 laboratories; United States has 19, 000; South Korea 7000; while China has 337, 033 accredited laboratories, giving the country an edge over its peers in Europe.
Adamu explained that China had been able to penetrate all parts of the world because of the quality of its products, adding that most European products are made in China.
He noted that Nigeria should have “a large, significant number of independent laboratories that can aid the development of this country.”
He said Nigeria should prioritize the manufacturing sector to address youth unemployment, stressing that encouragement of independent laboratories would boost trade in Nigeria and bring the country at par with other developed nations.
Source : Independent