The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, has called for the Nigeria Sugar Institute (NSI) to transition into full-scale operations to drive innovation and technical expertise within the nation’s sugar sector.
During an official visit to the facility in Ilorin, Senator Enoh commended the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin, for overseeing a series of “painstaking reforms” that have revitalized the institution since late 2023.
While praising the current progress, the Minister emphasized that the NSI must now become the primary engine for capacity development to meet Nigeria’s goals of industrialization and sugar self-sufficiency.
“The policy reforms, capacity building, and infrastructural upgrade that have taken place in the Institute within a very short time are quite commendable,” Senator Enoh stated. “I must however urge the Executive Secretary not to rest until this place becomes fully operational.”
A Hub for Research and Training
Incorporated in 2019 and commissioned in 2021, the NSI was designed as a shared technical backbone for the industry. Under the oversight of the NSDC, the Institute provides essential services including:
- Varietal Development: Specialized bio-factory and tissue culture facilities for seedcane multiplication.
- Applied Research: Technical support for both sugar and ethanol value chains.
- Manpower Development: Structured training for factory and field operations.
The Minister noted that the Institute’s strategic responsibility is to ensure all industry operators—not just a select few—have access to quality planting materials and skilled labor.
Transformation Under New Leadership
Since assuming office in October 2023, Mr. Kamar Bakrin has been credited with transforming the NSI from a dormant facility into a functional, industry-facing center. Key achievements highlighted during the visit include:
- Staff Development: Over 60 staff members have completed advanced training in project management, laboratory instrumentation, and soil analysis.
- The NSI Boot Camp: A new initiative delivering hands-on training in sugar processing, refining, and industrial safety.
- Curriculum Standardization: The development of a comprehensive, end-to-end sugar production curriculum and upgraded Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for biofactory operations.
Industry Impact
The NSI is already providing critical technical support to major private sector players. Recent collaborations include soil science and laboratory safety training for Sunti Golden Sugar Estate, as well as a “field-to-factory” integration programme for new hires at BUA Foods’ LASUCO operations.
Senator Enoh reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the NSDC and NSI, urging staff and stakeholders to maintain their dedication to the industry’s ongoing transformation.
