The Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, (FIIRO), Dr Gloria Elemo, has said the focus on children nutritional products and needs would boost economic growth in Nigeria.
Mrs Elemo, who spoke yesterday in Lagos, said the research and development of high nutrient density biscuits and drinks were meant to provide school-age children with one-third of their daily dietary needs.
"Our target is school- age children between six and 12 years, and we need serious intervention in terms of attention for the project.
"The goal is to bring about physical development, emotional well-being, as a total package to help the child at that stage,"she said.
She described the institute's research into the children's biscuits as a necessary intervention, as they were not likely to have enough daily nutritional requirements.
Mrs Elemo said:"We see the need for government intervention, to create a sort of nutrient, and it is in this area we need help to push the plan to reality.
"It is important because the future of any nation resides in the youths, and the quality of the youths that comes out matters.
"So, meeting one-third of the recommended dietary allowance for these children during school hours— and for the school feeding programme— is very critical."
She also said that the research work took into consideration factors like food safety and standards, because doing it on homegrown basis might not yield the expected results.
The FIIRO chief said the project would be beneficial to the producers of these biscuits at the specification provided by the institute, in the area of employment generation.
"This alone is a large business because it is not FIIRO that will be producing it; the state governments will also be part of the arrangement. It translates to business and employment,"she said.
She reports that the House Committee on Science and Technology that visited FIIRO on July 8, 2013, was presented with the latest research development to increase food security.
