PRODA to establish regional office in Cross River

Project Development Institute, PRODA is set to build its South South regional office in the Akamkpa local government area of Cross River State.

The agency disclosed this during a working visit of Cross River State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Justin Beshel to its corporate headquarters in Enugu State on Thursday.

PRODA, an industrial research and development institute that’s responsible for facilitating the development and deployment of science and technology apparatuses for socio-economic development in Nigeria, is a federal government agency domiciled in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

Speaking on the essence of his visit, Dr Beshel said that he was sent by the Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu to discuss areas of partnership that would enhance the domestication of all the agency has in its headquarters in the state.

READ ALSO | Vigilantes kill man wrongly accused of phone theft in Abuja

Beshel, who said the Otu’s administration is committed to making Cross River a leading state in science and technology, noted that he had a fruitful discussion with the Director General of the agency, Dr Peter Ogbobe that will culminate in stronger ties between the state and the agency.

According to him, “The focus of our visit was to build a stronger relationship and to collaborate with the agency to domesticate all they have in the headquarters in Cross River State.

Our governor is passionate about science and technology and has commissioned me to facilitate relationships that will enhance the state’s vision of becoming the leading state in science and technology in the country.”

The commissioner said that “One point to celebrate is that Cross River State has been chosen to be a Zonal Headquarters of PRODA in the South South Geopolitical zone. There’s already a land allocation in Akamkpa local government of the state. We believe in what we’re doing and are very focused on implementing Governor Otu’s ‘People’s First’ agenda in the area of science and technology.”

Some of the agency’s workshops that the DG conducted the Commissioner round include; Ceramic and Pottery Workshop, Pencil Production Workshop, Welding and Fabrication Workshop, Foundry Workshop, Biomedical Research Laboratory and Lithium Battery Manufacturing Workshop.