By Christopher Oji
Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Gilbert Nnaji, has said that Nigeria has great opportunity to enhance her technological capabilities to leverage on the abundance of our raw materials and human capital.
Chief Nnaji stated this at a recent meeting with top officials of the AMEL Group in Abuja, to explore the prospects of setting up a state-of-the-art float glass manufacturing pilot plant.
According to him: “This collaboration is promising and is expected to lead to significant advancements in economic development and industrial growth, particularly, given the ready availability of substantial silica sand and soda ash deposits”.
At the meeting, AMEL Group, which has successfully launched similar projects in Egypt and Algeria, was represented by Salah Saleh and Kingsley Obasohan.
He said the proposed pilot plant is expected to extract value from Nigeria’s abundant silica sand and soda ash deposits, creating job opportunities and contributing to the country’s economic growth.
“Silica sand and soda ash are two of the most versatile and widely used natural resources globally. Silica sand, also known as quartz sand, is a primary component in the production of glass, ceramics, and concrete. It is also used in the manufacture of fibreglass, silicon metal, and solar panels.
“Conversely, soda ash is a crucial ingredient in the production of glass, paper, and detergents. It is also utilised in the manufacture of textiles, pharmaceuticals, and food products, with considerable deposits available within Nigeria.
“Several countries and companies have successfully harnessed silica sand and soda ash to produce globally recognised brands, ” AMEL Group stated.